Inclusion Matters July 2023

July 2023

Inclusion Matters

July 2023

Government of Canada announces engagement process for Canada Disability Benefit

On July 24, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, detailed the engagement process that will maximize collaboration between the federal government and the disability community in the designing of the Canada Disability Benefit, as well as drafting the new Regulations.

The process will include the following steps over the next several months:

August 2023: Information session with disability stakeholders to establish a common understanding of the regulatory process.

September 2023-ongoing: technical roundtables and bilateral meetings will be held to bring together the views of experts, stakeholders, and persons with disabilities on critical areas of the regulations.

Fall 2023-Winter 2023: an online survey and portal for open submissions to gather input from all Canadians.

Inclusion Canada looks forward to engaging with and amplifying the voices of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in developing the Canada Disability Benefit.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Announces New Minister of Disability

On Wednesday, July 27, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced several major cabinet changes, including a new Minister of Disability.

Carla Qualtrough, who was responsible for the disability portfolio for many years, was sworn in as Minister of Sport and Physical Activity. The disability portfolio was moved to Kamal Khera, who was sworn in as Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities.

Inclusion Canada thanks Minister Qualtrough for her longtime support of the full inclusion of people with disabilities. Without her hard work and commitment, the Canada Disability Benefit, Accessible Canada Act, and other critical strides for Canada's disability community would never have happened.

We wish Minister Qualtrough the best of luck in her new role. We look forward to working closely with Minister Khera on the Canada Disability Benefit and advancing the full inclusion of people with an intellectual disability in Canadian society.

Learn about the cabinet shuffle here. >

Inclusion Canada in Action

On June 20, Senior Communications Officer, Marc Muschler, co-chaired the first meeting of Inclusion International's Siblings Working Group. The group brings together the siblings of people with a disability working at Inclusion International member organizations around the world to better understand the role of siblings in advancing the full inclusion of people with an intellectual disability.

How to be a good friend, neighbour, and co-worker to people with an intellectual disability

Do you want to learn how to be a better ally to people with an intellectual disability?

Inclusion Canada recently partnered with two self-advocates to create a plain language document that shares ideas about how to be inclusive of people with an intellectual disability at work, school, home, or the community.

You can access the document here. >

Join us for an Inspiring Inclusion Tour on August 21!

On August 21 at 12:00 pm EST, we invite you to attend one of our virtual Inspiring Inclusion tours to better understand Inclusion Canada's work.

In just 35 minutes, our presentation will introduce how Inclusion Canada makes an invaluable difference by enabling community inclusion in schools, workplaces, universities and colleges, housing and social justice.

You will meet, hear, and be moved by the personal stories of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Their personal stories are a testament to the work of Inclusion Canada and illustrate vividly the difference everyone can make by learning more and supporting the work of this family-driven organization.

Click here to sign up today. >

Upcoming Dates & Events

August 7 - Civic Holiday (Inclusion Canada offices closed)

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