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Timeline and Next Steps
Next Steps
The final regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette, which is expected in spring 2025.
The administrative structure, including the application form, will be set up in winter 2024/spring 2025.
Service Canada is developing guidance documents that outline the process for applying for the CDB. These documents will be available before the July 2025 roll out of the CDB.
Payments for the CDB are scheduled to begin being disbursed on July 1st, 2025.
Canada Disability Benefit Timeline
2024
June 2024 to spring 2025: Second phase in the engagement process
Engagement opportunities included:
June 2024 to September 2024: the proposed regulations were published in Part I of the Canada Gazette, and the public was invited to give their feedback,
September 23rd, 2024, to present: the government is reviewing the feedback from Part I of the Canada Gazette and will make any necessary changes, and
Expected in spring 2025: the final regulations will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette.
April 16th, 2024: Federal Budget announcement
The 2024 Federal Budget was announced, and included the official terms of the CDB, and that payments are expected to begin in July 2025.
2023
Fall 2023: Minister Kamal Khera reaches out to people with disabilities
Minister Kamal Khera started work on the CDB by reaching out to people with disabilities to hear their stories and experiences.
Late summer/early fall 2023: Advocacy from disability focused organizations
Advocates and community partners across the country focused their advocacy efforts on the importance of the following aspects:
Holding the government accountable to their promise to co-create the benefit with people with disabilities.
Urging the government to begin the regulatory phase as soon as possible.
Advocating for the government to ensure adequate funding is included in the next Federal budget.
August 2023, to January 2024: First phase in the engagement process
Engagement opportunities included:
August 2023: an information session with disability stakeholders,
September 2023, ongoing: technical roundtables and bilateral meetings, and
November 2023 to January 2024: an online consultation process to help shape the regulations, including eligibility and benefit amount, of the CDB.
From these consultations, Input was received from 8,000 Canadians.
July 26th, 2023: Cabinet shuffle
There was a shuffle in the Federal government, and Minister Carla Qualtrough, was moved from her position as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, and Minister Kamal Khera is appointed in her place.
July 24th, 2023: Timeline and details of the CDB regulations announced
Minister Carla Qualtrough announced the timeline and details of the engagement process for CDB Regulations, including a two-phase engagement process: the first phase, the regulatory design phase, and the second phase, the publishing of the draft and subsequent final Regulations.
June 22nd, 2023: Bill C-22 receives Royal Assent
Bill C-22, now more commonly referred to as the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), received Royal Assent, thereby making it a law. Since Bill C-22 was a framework bill, all specifics were not determined at this time, and instead would be designed during the regulatory process.
February 2nd, 2023, to May 18th, 2023: Bill C-22 goes through the Senate
During this time Bill C-22:
had its second and third readings in the Senate,
was referred to the HUMA Committee,
was presented by the HUMA Committee in the Senate during the Consideration stage,
during this stage the committee reviews the text of the bill and approves or modifies it
went through the Report stage,
during this stage members to propose motions to amend the text of the bill,
was voted on and passed in the Senate.
2022
September 20th, 2022, to February 2nd, 2023: Bill C-22 goes through the House of Commons
During this time Bill C-22:
had its second and third readings in the House of Commons,
was referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA Committee),
was presented by the HUMA Committee in the House of Commons during the Consideration stage,
went through the Report stage
was voted on and passed in the House of Commons.
June 2nd, 2022: Bill C-22 is presented to the legislature
Minister Carla Qualtrough, then Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion of Canada, presented Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, or the Canada Disability Benefit Act, to the legislature. This was the second attempt to pass the Canada Disability Benefit Act into law, after Bill C-35 was dissolved. Bill C-22 was created to address the disproportionate level of poverty faced by people with disabilities. The intent was to secure a federal benefit to supplement provincial benefits.
2021
August 15, 2021: Bill C-35 dissolved
Bill C-35 was dissolved when an election was called, and Parliament was shuffled.
June 22nd, 2021: First reading of Bill C-35 in the House of Commons
Bill C-35, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, or Canada Disability Benefit Act, was first read in the House of Commons.
April 19th, 2021: Federal Budget announcement
During the 2021 Federal Budget announcement, funding for a new disability benefit was allocated. The budget committed $11.9 million over three years, starting in 2021-2022, for consultations on reforming the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits, including seeking input on a New Disability Benefit.
2020
September 23rd, 2020: Announcement of the Canada Disability Benefit
During the Throne Speech, it was announced that the government would bring forward a Disability Inclusion Plan, which included a new Canada Disability Benefit. The plan included, “a new Canadian Disability Benefit modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors.”