MEDIA ADVISORY - Canada's Disability Tax Credit - Why are the neediest disabled Canadians receiving the least benefit?

CALGARY, June 8, 2016 /CNW/ - When the government establishes a social program whose primary purpose is to help provide support to low-income people with disabilities, its success should be measured on how well it achieves that purpose, right? Unfortunately, there are reasons to seriously question the usefulness of Canada's disability tax credit (DTC) since it is helping so very few of the people it is intended to support. In fact, the credit is helping only a small number of Canadians with disability who qualify for it, and least of all those in the poorest families who receive an average of only $29 annually. How is this possible?

Tomorrow, The School of Public Policy with authors Wayne Simpson and Harvey Stevens will release a report that provides evidence of the limitations of the DTC and presents potential reforms.

This is an issue of critical importance to thousands of Canadian families.

Co-author Wayne Simpson will be available for interviews tomorrow from Ottawa.

SOURCE The School of Public Policy - University of Calgary

Morten Paulsen, 403.220.2540, [email protected]