Disability Advisory Committee

In September 2022, Ms. Gillian Pranke became Assistant Commissioner, Assessment, Benefit, and Service Branch (ABSB) at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). ABSB is responsible for the assessment of taxes, processing a wide range of federal and provincial credits and benefits including the Canada Child Benefit and the Disability Tax Credit, and providing services to Canadians both electronically (e.g. CRA’s online portals such as My Account, My Business Account) and through the CRA contact centres across the country. Ms. Pranke is also CRA’s national champion for Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Ms. Pranke has held a variety of senior level positions within the CRA of increasing responsibility, including Director of the International Tax Services Office, Director of the Ottawa Tax Services Office, and Director of the Ottawa Technology Centre and Director General, Call Centre Services Directorate.

Ms. Pranke holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, is a graduate of the Public Service Commission’s DirEXion program, and has completed the Certificate Program in Public Service Leadership and Governance with the University of Ottawa.

My name is Looee Mike, my maiden name is Qappik and before we were given a maiden name Canada gave me a tag with a number E6-842 so my first ever documents are like this; Looee E6-842, Pangnirtung. At least in Pangnirtung RCMP office years ago and at Federal Day School.

I was born in the year of our Lord 1958 in April at Nunataaq in Shark Fjord just north of Cumberland Sound on Baffin Island, Nunavut. I grew up in that home village until I was 4 years old then we were taken.

I went to school here in Pangnirtung for 13 years and were made to repeat grades if I didn't get good marks, for the likes of me, we had no clue.. not our culture.. They were all done in English. It was hard and made no sense. Today, I know some of the reasons why we were sent to school. I have been made to be curious. So I took on my path some challenges to occupy my curiosity and I loved it.

I then went to High School in what we call then Frobisher Bay, Iqaluit at Gordon Robertson Education Centre (GREC) for one year until I was kicked out. When they wanted me to walk to a Dorm in the middle of the coldest month of February, I refused and I got kicked out. So I never went to a school setting again but I went to training at the newest College in Iqaluit, and trained to be a Early Childhood Educator, passed it, made the Dean's List, not sure what that is, and then I started both existing Daycares in Pangnirtung since 1988 and the other 2001 at a local High School so the babies can stay in the school and finish. Both daycares are still operating today. I then went to Theological training to become a Minister in a church and I passed it and was a Pastor for 20 years. Today, I am becoming old and I am very much carrying on many things I did but by volunteering.

I am part of a very important part of our culture, I am a native, an Inuk (eskimo) and I am very much concerned about our culture and Language and do many things to keep our native lifestyle intact so we may never forget who it is that kept our land as though untouched because of how we care for our environment and living off of it. I can be out in the land and survive as our Ancestors did.

My husband and I have been active in making sure our fellow inuit are receiving their rights to have all that our Government offers equally. He has been a member of the legislative assembly for Nunavut. He was very successful and has been because we work side by side as our Ancestors urge that we do. It is never for oneself but for everyone. I have also dealt with Food Insecurity locally and that it connects to petty crimes with youth. I worked for Safety Canada, Youth and Crime Prevention that the local government had worked to have here in Pangnirtung. So we made sure we have work with children and youth on a daily basis. We worked with many groups of people, including RCMP to have sports and we included meals each day. The crime went down in this age group so significantly that it was lowest recorded across Canada wide. Simple sports and food.

Liam Bienstock (he/him) is an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics and mental health. He received his degree from McGill University and worked at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in child psychiatry. Liam has experience in specialized and inclusive education and leisure activities from the Mackay Centre School and community organizations. Currently, Liam practices privately in Montreal, providing therapy to children and their families, often assisting with financial documents, like the T2201, as these are tools crucial for accessing services and improving the financial health of people living in Canada.

In addition to his occupational therapy background, Liam also holds a Master's degree in inclusive design from OCAD University, which has fueled his passion for creating accessible/inclusive environments for all individuals through collaboration and co-design. Since graduating, Liam has been conducting research and consulting with different companies and governmental agencies to develop more inclusive practices.

Lastly, Liam is a support person for an Autistic sibling and other disabled individuals in his family, providing him with an additional and personal lens for this work.

Brendon Pooran is the Managing Partner of PooranLaw Professional Corporation, a law firm based in Toronto which provides advice to people with disabilities, their families and community-based organizations within the disability sector. His primary areas of practice include trust and estate planning, disability law and corporate law for non-profits and charities. He has been very involved in law and policy reforms efforts involving issues and initiatives affecting people with disabilities including the legal capacity, affordable housing, social assistance programs and the Registered Disability Saving Plan. In addition to his practice, Brendon is a professor of Disability Law at York University and a former Senior Lawyer Member on the Ontario Consent & Capacity Board. He is also a founding director of PLAN Toronto (now Partners for Planning) and Chair of the Board of Microboards Ontario, both non-profit organizations focused on future planning for people with disabilities and their families. Before entering the legal profession, Brendon spent several years as a management consultant where he advised state and local government agencies in the United States.