Create National Disability Insurance
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to create a National Disability Insurance Plan providing non‑means‑tested income, caregiving, home/vehicle modifications and therapeutic services. The government responds that supports are shared with provinces and launched the Canada Disability Benefit.
Why we would sign this petition
- Would create consistent, nationwide disability supports, reducing reliance on uneven provincial programs and helping address poverty among people with disabilities.
- Would fund income, paid caregiving, home/vehicle modifications and therapeutic services that can improve independence, dignity and daily functioning.
- Would spread the financial burden across society rather than individuals, aligning with obligations and rights-based goals cited by the petitioners.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Requires major federal–provincial coordination and could be limited by provincial jurisdiction over social programs, as the government notes.
- A comprehensive national plan would entail significant public spending and trade-offs; the petition does not specify funding sources or a timeline.
- The federal government says it launched the Canada Disability Benefit and navigation services, so a new plan might duplicate or overlap existing measures.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Many Canadians living with disabilities live below the poverty line and cannot afford necessary disability-related care; Existing social disability programs in Canada are grossly inadequate in addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals living with disabilities, and it is crucial to establish a federal National Disability Insurance Plan (NDIP) to ensure consistent, reliable, and comprehensive support services across the country, enabling individuals living with disabilities to live independently and with dignity; The establishment of the NDIP would provide essential services, including income support, paid caregiving, home and vehicle modifications, professional services such as physiotherapy, counseling, and occupational therapy on a non-means-tested basis (not based on income), and it would help address the high poverty rates and financial hardships faced by many Canadians living with disabilities, ensuring compliance with Canada's obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (section 7), the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the UN International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals; and It is evident that the financial burden of disability should not be borne solely by individuals living with disabilities, their families, or their supporters, and, instead, this cost should be shared by the larger Canadian society to ensure equity and support for all. We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to establish a comprehensive federal National Disability Insurance Plan (NDIP) to provide equitable and consistent support for all Canadians with long-term and chronic disabilities.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by Annie Koutrakis The Government appreciates receiving the proposal for a national approach to disability programming. In Canada, responsibility for disability supports is shared across federal, provincial and territorial governments. Every level of government plays a different role, and programs are often tailored to different contexts. At the federal level, the Government provides leadership and funding in areas such as accessibility, employment supports and post-secondary education, tax measures and savings assistance, income supports, and support for disability organizations. Provinces and territories provide a wide range of disability programs in key areas such as, income support, disability supports, education, housing, health care, training and employment support, and accessibility standards. The Government of Canada continues to work to address the social and economic exclusion of persons with disabilities. A major recent step was the introduction of the Canada Disability Benefit, created to help address the financial security of persons with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit is intended to supplement, not replace, existing provincial and territorial income support measures, and to fill a gap in the federal social safety net between the Canada Child Benefit, Canada Pension Plan-Disability and Old Age Security for persons with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit launched in June 2025, with the first payments made to Canadians in July 2025. It provides up to $2,400 per year to eligible low-income persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. To help with the cost of applying for the Disability Tax Credit, Budget 2025 also announced a supplemental Canada Disability Benefit payment of $150 for each Disability Tax Credit certification or re-certification that leads to Canada Disability Benefit eligibility. To help Canadians navigate the many federal, provincial and territorial programs that support persons with disabilities, the Government of Canada has funded 14 community-based organizations across Canada to provide accessible, individualized navigation services for free. The list of organizations providing disability benefits navigation services is available on Employment and Social Development Canada’s website.