Statement by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development in response to the 2015 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada

GATINEAU, QC, Febr. 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Following the tabling of the 2015 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, issued the following statement:

"This situation is not acceptable. The Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) program is supposed to be there to support Canadians facing a severe and prolonged disability. These are some of the most vulnerable Canadians, many of them facing very difficult circumstances. We must do better for them.

As the Minister responsible for both Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Social Security Tribunal (SST), I have instructed my officials to put in place an action plan that addresses all the recommendations of the Auditor General and to ensure the Program is significantly improved. Specifically, I have asked my department to:

• streamline and simplify the application process;
• improve the process used to make decisions on applications, including implementing a new system for monitoring the consistency and quality of decisions;
• review all CPPD service standards and implement revised standards; and
• over time, increase the use of electronic services and automated workload management.

This situation has gone on for too many years.  We must now accelerate CPPD decision making for those facing terminal or grave illnesses, and directly engage beneficiaries to help us improve the Program.

I shall monitor the plan for these improvements to properly deliver CPPD benefits.  I will work closely with my department and the Social Security Tribunal to ensure improvements are put in place now and in in the future."

Associated Links                              

2015 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada

ESDC Management Action Plan

Message from the Chairperson of the SST

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]