O'Toole announces new details for Tories proposed boost to disability benefits

On day seven of  this snap election campaign, Erin O'Toole was at Edmonton's Winnifred Stewart Association, announcing new details about his parties plan to tackle barriers and challenges for Canadians living with disabilities worsened by the pandemic.

As part of the much touted Canada Recovery Plan, the Tories proposed doubling the disability supplement in the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) from $750 to $1,500. In his prepared remarks, O'Toole said doubling the disability supplement would begin to address the needs of disabled Canadians "hit hard by the pandemic, hit hard by isolation, hit hard by job losses, and a lack of access to the support services they need."

O'Toole stressed his concerns with the fact that federal and provincial social programs 'claw back' benefits for working Canadians with disabilities, adding that he would "overhaul the patchwork of disability supports [in Canada]. These fellow Canadians need our support right now to live full lives and participate fully in society, including in the workforce,” O’Toole said.

“We know how important it is for Canadians of every ability to have security and financial independence to lead their lives,” he concluded, before making himself available for media questions.

At time of writing, the cost for the Canada Recovery Plan have yet to be determined, but is in the process of being evaluated by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). The Conservative Party has stated that it will release an updated version of their plan when this process is complete.