Canada’s disability community has spent decades urging governments to recognize a simple truth: dignity should never be conditional, and basic survival should never depend on navigating a system designed to fall short. Today, far too many disabled Canadians are forced to make impossible choices between medication and food, rent and mobility aids, heat and independence. Programs intended to provide stability consistently leave people below the poverty line, despite rising costs of living and the reality that disability-related expenses are often lifelong and unavoidable.

This petition calls for a meaningful, permanent increase to federal disability funding— one that reflects real living costs, respects human rights, and acknowledges the inherent worth of every person who relies on these supports.

Across the country, disabled individuals and their families face structural barriers that no amount of budgeting or personal sacrifice can overcome. Provincial and federal systems frequently work at odds with each other, offering piecemeal assistance that fails to cover essential needs such as accessible housing, adaptive technologies, specialized transportation, mental-health services, mobility equipment, and home care. Rather than lifting people up, outdated income supports trap them in cycles of poverty that deepen with each rent hike, grocery increase, or medical bill.

The current situation is more than a policy gap— it is a national responsibility. Canada has committed, both domestically and internationally, to upholding the rights and freedoms of disabled people. Yet without adequate, guaranteed income support, those commitments ring hollow. A country cannot pride itself on equality while leaving some of its most vulnerable residents without the means to meet basic daily needs.

An increased federal disability benefit would bring consistency, stability, and fairness across provinces and territories. It would acknowledge the reality that disability is not a temporary circumstance and that the costs associated with living with a disability extend far beyond what current programs recognize. It would also reduce pressure on emergency services, healthcare systems, shelters, and community organizations that are routinely forced to step in where government support falls short.

This petition urges the federal government to:

• Substantially increase the amount of disability funding to ensure recipients can live above the poverty line.
• Index payments to inflation, guaranteeing that support keeps pace with rising living costs.
• Streamline access and reduce bureaucratic barriers that delay or deny essential income.
• Work collaboratively with provinces and territories to ensure federal improvements are not clawed back.
• Recognize the lived expertise of disabled Canadians by including them directly in policy design and evaluation.

This is not a call for charity— this is a call for justice. Canada thrives when every resident can participate fully in their community, pursue opportunities, and live with security and self-determination. Increasing disability funding is a vital step toward a more equitable society, one where no one is left behind or asked to sacrifice their wellbeing to balance a government budget.

By signing this petition, you stand with millions of Canadians who believe that disability rights are human rights and that support systems should reflect compassion, fairness, and the true cost of living. Together, we can urge the government to take meaningful action now.