CambridgeToday received the following letter from Cambridge MP Bryan May about the leadership of our local disability community on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dec. 3.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and as your Member of Parliament for Cambridge and North Dumfries, I am honoured to acknowledge the tireless advocacy and leadership of our local disability community. Together, we are building a more inclusive and accessible Canada for all.
Thanks to decades of your unwavering efforts, we have achieved significant milestones together over the last few years. Nearly eight million Canadians over the age of 15 live with at least one disability, and they deserve full participation in every aspect of our communities.
Since 2015, we’ve made historic strides by passing the Accessible Canada Act, launching the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, and creating the roles of Chief Accessibility Commissioner and Chief Accessibility Officer in our government. We’ve invested millions of dollars in over 7,700 local projects across the country to make our public spaces, community facilities and workplaces more accessible for persons with disabilities, like the Township of North Dumfries. Thanks to our government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Township has installed an accessible elevator at the Ayr Community Centre, a project that ensures everyone in the community can enjoy the space without limitations.
We are also creating more opportunities for persons with disabilities to thrive in the workforce and succeed in the job market by investing in skills training, mentorship, and initiatives that connect employers with employees who have disabilities.
One of our government’s most important achievements is the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). Canadians with disabilities will begin receiving CDB payments in July 2025, at a starting rate of $200. It is vital that Canadians receiving the CDB do not lose other federal and provincial supports they currently rely on, and we’ve been working with the provinces and territories to ensure that the well-being of Canadians with disabilities remains a top priority. This is Canada’s first statutory national benefit for working-age Canadians with disabilities, and we’re proud to be the ones alongside the community making it a reality.
We know there is much more to be done to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040, but this ambitious goal will be achieved thanks to the support of every advocate committed to building a future for Canadians of all abilities – a future where all community members can thrive and live dignified lives. Thank you so much for your dedication to ensuring Canada and our communities are accessible to all.
As always, if you have any questions or want to learn more about how our government is supporting Canadians with disabilities, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. You can email [email protected] or call us at 519-624-7440.
Bryan May
Member of Parliament for Cambridge and North Dumfries
