Minister Lebouthillier announces Disability Advisory Committee

November 23, 2017     Ottawa, ON        Canada Revenue Agency

The Government understands that living with a disability can have significant impacts on individuals and their families. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is committed to administer measures for persons with disabilities in a fair, transparent, and accessible way.

Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced that the Disability Advisory Committee, originally formed in 2004 and disbanded in 2006, is being re-instated to provide the CRA with a formalized means of collaborating with various stakeholders. Enhancing the accessibility of the CRA’s services to persons with disabilities is an ongoing effort, which will be greatly assisted by the Committee’s work.

Co-chaired by Frank Vermaeten, Assistant Commissioner of the CRA and Dr. Karen R. Cohen, CEO of the Canadian Psychological Association, the Committee will include persons with disabilities, advocates from disability and Indigenous communities, qualified health practitioners, and tax professionals.

Through the Committee, the CRA will work closely with stakeholders to ensure that it administers all measures for persons with disabilities fairly under the provisions of the Income Tax Act. The Committee will:

• advise the CRA on the needs and expectations of persons living with disabilities;
• review and provide feedback on the CRA’s administrative practices; and
• make recommendations on how the CRA can enhance the quality of the service we provide to persons with disabilities.  

The newly launched Disability Advisory Committee will include 12 members and will meet for the first time in 2018.

Quote

“We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians receive the credits and benefits they are entitled to. That is why we are reinstating the Disability Advisory Committee, a forum with a proven track-record of bringing Canada Revenue Agency officials together with stakeholders to ensure that Canadians with disabilities’ views are better incorporated into CRA decision-making. Outreach and consultation are key, and I look forward to hearing the insights of the members of the Committee on ways we can improve access to our services for Canadians living with disabilities.”

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue
 

Quick Facts

• The Committee will play an important role in the CRA’s continued efforts to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• The Committee will provide the CRA with feedback on the administration of several measures for Canadians living with disabilities, including the Child Disability Benefit, tax deductions such as attendant care expenses and allowable medical expenses, measures for caregivers of adult dependents, and the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
• The DTC is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities (or the family members who support them) to offset the costs of living with a disability.
• The CRA receives an average of more than 250,000 applications for the DTC each year. Over 80 per cent of these applications are approved.
• Last year, some 770,000 individuals claimed the credit for themselves.  This represents more than $1.3 billion in tax relief in 2016-17.

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Contacts
John Power
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Revenue
613-995-2960

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Canada Revenue Agency
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