Prince Edward County Council is asking the federal government to exempt the Canada Disability Benefit from income tax, in order to help Canadians with disabilities escape poverty.
The request is part of a motion put forward during Tuesday’s meeting of council in response to a new Canada-wide disability benefit being worked on by the federal government. The motion instructs Mayor Steve Ferguson to communicate with Prime Minister Mark Carney and request the new benefit be made tax exempt.
The new benefit would amount to $200 monthly for qualifying persons with disabilities, however, the benefit would currently be considered income and would be taxed, clawing back part of the benefit.
Councillor Bill Roberts put forward the motion, noting that persons with disabilities are already twice as likely as others to be living below the poverty line.
“Without that tax exemption, this new federal disability benefit would see pretty close to $600 a year being clawed back,” said Councillor Roberts. “That $600 is often what compels hard choices between better food and shelter. I think that’s not fair.”
The motion passed unanimously. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to the federal ministers of Finance and Health, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services, and all municipalities in the Province of Ontario
