Once again people with disabilities, the single largest demographic in New Brunswick, have been seriously let down by this government. They’re trying to buy the votes of demographic segments they’ve ignored since taking office, but apparently, our constituents aren’t even important enough for that. How disappointing, yet unsurprising, from this administration: it continues the trend.
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves refers to making more information available to the residents of New Brunswick in his budget speech. I’m sure people with hearing disabilities heard him loud and clear: oh wait, there were no ASL, LSQ or CART options available, again. This is basic stuff! Shame on New Brunswick for systemically ignoring this demographic. Shame on this government!
It’s not an exaggeration to say there was nothing in this budget to help people with disabilities. We remind you our constituency represents 35.3 per cent of the population aged 15 and over. We grew by 8 per cent over the last census period for the demographic segment, the largest such growth in Canada. The Finance Minister repeated prior commitments, which still leave NB residents with disabilities living far, far below poverty level wages. We’re tired of reminding this government of what our struggles do not only just to us, but also to the provincial health system. People with disabilities also cannot access affordable housing. We need a government with an actual plan.
Previously announced: “We have increased social assistance rates, helped clients keep more money while transitioning to work, and reduced harmful claw backs.”
Previously Announced, indexing Social Development rates: “Moreover, we have indexed benefits to inflation. Budget 2024-2025 reaffirms our commitment to indexing social assistance rates to inflation. This means that social assistance rates will increase by 3.6 per cent under the Transitional Assistance Program and the Extended Benefits Program, resulting in an additional $7.3 million that will benefit approximately 26,000 unique households in New Brunswick.”
Mr. Steeves and Mr. Premier, you are obligated under the policy to index the benefits to inflation and you haven’t! Somehow, people with disabilities are worse off than before, and we’re already the worst province to live in with a disability. Give us a break!
Also previously announced: “In addition, a new $200 per month household supplement for social assistance recipients and youth engagement services recipients has been created, resulting in $51 million being provided to over 33,000 residents, including over 10,000 children.”
However, where there are so many people with disabilities who were forced to use Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits, those people won’t see a cent of this $200. They aren’t counted in the provincial system, so these figures are misleading at best and the government will invest a fraction of the money they claim.
We can only hope that a current legal case in Saskatchewan will establish the practice of requiring an application for Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits first be made illegal and will allow thousands to transfer fully onto extended benefits.
The government did increase the seniors’ monthly supplement from $200 to $600. To qualify, you need to be a senior earning under $21,624 (that individual will also get the Old Age Security, around $400) plus the $600 a month. Put it all together, people with disabilities max out at $1,086 a month. That’s less than half of the benefit for seniors. Why? Are our lives less important? Some people with disabilities, had they received proper care in the first case, wouldn’t be disabled at all! That’s on the province. We should not be made to pay the price.
Then there’s the housing fiasco. Five hundred million dollars to NB Housing, but out of the 308 NB housing units planned, less than half are even started. This is not new money. We need accessible units that are affordable in New Brunswick. The few private units that are accessible are going for more than $1,650 a month. Not only is that not affordable, but people with disabilities must also often rely on rent subsidies which limits them to around $1,100 a month. People with disabilities can’t afford the housing made for their benefit. They are forced to look elsewhere and end up in precarious situations as a result. Pushing people into places with mold and radon doesn’t make it any easier to live in New Brunswick.
Ironically, the Minister also referenced One GNB and how NB Housing is proof of that system working. However, when we try to get Social Development and Housing to work together, we are told they are separate departments and cannot do so. Minister Steeves, maybe educate yourself on how the government departments tend to get siloed off?
Even with the small gains – such as funds for wildfire preparation and training – we are willing to bet there is no plan to ensure these folks are trained on how to evacuate a person with a disability. The same goes for funds for volunteer firefighters. Please think about a person you know with a sight, hearing or mobility disability who does not live on the main floor of an apartment building. Do you think there’s a plan in place to safely evacuate them, should there be a flood or fire? (There isn’t a plan, sadly.)
There’s nothing to support local governance efforts in rural communities. Although there is a mandated requirement for accessibility in regional service districts, they have no intention of following through. The only thing worse than being a person with a disability in New Brunswick is being a person with a disability in rural New Brunswick.
There is money for arts, culture, and sport – but is there a mandate that these grants all be tied to accessible ventures? Of course not.
Apparently, there is money to help those with a language burden attend school, which is excellent. That’s only one part of how one should fund and implement accessibility in schools. When a request for accessible equipment is placed, it could be three to five years before the student gets it. What kind of sense does that make?
Although we were happy to see money for pre-school autism supports, why only autism? What about all the other children with disabilities? And consider this statement by the Finance Minister: “By making this investment at an early stage of a child’s development, demand for support further downstream within the school system may be reduced and/or mitigated and lead to better educational outcomes.” As the parent of a child with autism and a former teacher, Mr. Steeves I can tell you providing support for autism doesn’t reduce or mitigate autism. It is a lifelong disability! People don’t stop being autistic, they have to learn to manage those behaviors as best they can. Why is he only interested in better educational outcomes? Should he not want better lifetime outcomes? Should we be surprised he doesn’t understand the difference? Or doesn’t care to?
We are 300,000 strong and our voting block is among the largest in the province. You will see us and you will hear us at the ballot boxes. New Brunswickers won’t forget the last few years in the province either and we’re ready to elect government officials who respect people living with disabilities.
Shelley Petit is the Chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.
![Abolish unpaid social work internships, says petition launched by New Brunswick student [video]](https://nbmediacoop.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FullSocialWorkJan272025-120x86.jpg)
