Establish National Living Benefit

AI summary

Petitioners ask the House to establish a National Living Benefit guaranteeing seniors and Canadians with disabilities an income above the official poverty line, protected from provincial claw‑backs and indexed annually to the CPI. The government responds that it has strengthened income supports, notes shared federal–provincial responsibility, and will continue affordability and monitoring efforts.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Millions of Canadians living with disabilities and many seniors continue to struggle below the poverty line despite decades of public service, contributions, or hardship; The cost of housing, food, and essential needs has risen faster than provincial and federal benefits, forcing many to choose between basic necessities; Existing programs such as the Canada Disability Benefit, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement are not yet sufficient to guarantee dignity, stability, and freedom from poverty; and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms affirms the right to security of the person and equal protection under the law, values that require tangible action. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: 1. Establish a National Living Benefit ensuring that all Canadians with disabilities and seniors receive a guaranteed income above the official poverty line; 2. Protect this benefit from provincial claw-backs or deductions; and 3. Index the benefit annually to the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) so that no person is left behind due to inflation or rising housing costs.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue Signed by The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne The government thanks the petitioners for raising concerns regarding poverty among persons with disabilities and seniors, as well as the financial challenges they face. Ensuring dignity, economic security, and inclusion for all Canadians—particularly those facing barriers due to disability, age, or health conditions—remains a core priority. This is why the federal government has taken action to strengthen and modernize federal income supports for seniors and persons with disabilities. Measures since 2016 include increases to Old Age Security for seniors aged 75 and over, continued enhancements to the Guaranteed Income Supplement for low-income seniors, and the implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit, which aims to reduce poverty and improve financial security for working-age persons with disabilities. At the same time, income support in Canada is a shared responsibility between the federal government and provinces and territories. While the federal government provides the majority of income support for seniors, and plays an important role in supporting families through programs such as the Canada Child Benefit and Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care, provinces and territories are primarily responsible for income support for working-age adults, including persons with disabilities. Federal measures are therefore designed to complement—rather than replace—provincial and territorial programs, while respecting jurisdictional responsibilities. To guide poverty-reduction efforts in Canada, the Government of Canada released Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy in 2018. TheStrategy was grounded in evidence showing that Canadians are best served through a combination of enhanced existing supports, targeted new measures, and opportunities through the labour market that raise employment and income, an approach broadly supported by stakeholders and experts. Measures introduced under this framework contributed to significant progress. Between 2015 and 2019, Canada’s overall poverty rate fell by close to 30 percent. The poverty rate among seniors—already by far the lowest among major demographic groups—fell further, reflecting the stabilizing role of public pension income and income-tested supports, while the poverty rate among persons with disabilities aged 15 and older fell proportionally faster than for the population as a whole. Evidence shows that remaining pockets of senior poverty are increasingly shaped by structural factors—such as living alone, renting or living in urban centers—highlighting the importance of targeted measures that address specific cost pressures alongside broad-based income supports. Since 2019, however, the global context has shifted dramatically. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the post-pandemic surge in inflation increased cost-of-living pressures around the world. More recently, escalating geopolitical tensions—including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East—have contributed to renewed volatility in global energy markets, heightened uncertainty, and further strains on international supply chains. Together with the erosion of the rules-based trading system that supported Canada’s prosperity for decades, these developments have continued to weigh on global and domestic economic conditions, adding to cost pressures for Canadians. In response, Canada’s new government is focused on what we control: building a stronger, more resilient economy while bringing down costs for Canadians. This includes a balanced approach that combines direct support for household budgets, action to reduce key cost pressures where government policy can influence prices, and longer-term measures to strengthen economic growth, productivity, and resilience—through major nation-building projects, accelerated housing construction, and strengthened economic and security partnerships. While the full benefits of these structural investments will take time to be felt, the government is also acting to support Canadians now. Over the past year, Canada’s new government has taken a range of actions to make life more affordable for Canadians, including tax relief for middle-class Canadians; support for first-time home buyers; measures to reduce costs at the gas pump, including the removal of the consumer carbon price and the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax; the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit; implementing the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which is reducing out-of-pocket costs for eligible Canadians. Targeted measures have also been introduced to strengthen food security, including support for food banks and northern communities. Additional initiatives include making the National School Food Program permanent, expanding access to low-cost banking services, introducing automatic access to federal benefits, and renewing the Canada Strong Pass. The Spring Economic Update 2026 proposed additional measures to address cost-of-living pressures, including support for domestic food production, the development of a National Food Security Strategy, added flexibility under the Home Buyers’ Plan, a reduction in the base Canada Pension Plan contribution rate beginning in 2027, and making it easier for persons with disabilities and their supporting family members to access the Disability Tax Credit. Together, these measures help address key cost pressures—particularly food, housing-related expenses, health-care costs, and access to benefits—that disproportionately affect seniors and persons with disabilities. While the government is taking action to strengthen income support and ease affordability pressures, it is worth reiterating that provincial and territorial governments continue to play a central role in delivering income assistance and complementary services. The government will continue to monitor economic conditions and the effectiveness of income-support programs, and to work collaboratively with provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders to ensure that Canadians—particularly seniors and persons with disabilities—have the support they need to live with dignity, stability, and security.