It could be the beginning of the end or the beginning of a new beginning.
The federal budget will be released today by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and with next year’s election ever closer, there is no shortage of issues to address.
One of them is budgeting for the benefit and by this I mean the Canada Disability Benefit.
Touted as life-changing for disabled people, the benefit was discussed for years and was first introduced ahead of the 2021 election, before finally becoming law in 2023.
The only problem?
It is a benefit without money: no funds have been allocated to it yet.
With nearly two million disabled Canadians living in poverty, getting the benefit into your hands is not just a matter of financial survival, but also of regaining trust in a government that has promised to deliver for years.
Likewise, the government has lagged behind in supporting the country’s fastest-growing demographic.
The last time his government increased Old Age Security, it effectively created a two-class system and excluded Canadians aged 65 to 74 from the much-needed increase.
This equates to more than three million people, many of whom survive on fixed incomes, struggle with rising costs, and are increasingly represented among the homeless population.
While steps have been taken to help provinces offer more home care options for seniors, such as providing funding to the British Columbia government for this purpose, these should be a complement, not a substitute, to the direct support they receive all older people.
That brings me to my next point: the federal government must take the role of leader and partner.
Despite some healthy interaction between the feds and the provinces, their relationship in recent years has generally been tense and plagued by missed opportunities for collaboration.
This is particularly true in health care, where capacity must increase dramatically as the population ages, and housing, that the federal government ever most robustly funded.
When Canadians face crises on multiple fronts, they deserve better than passing the buck, shifting blame, and being unable to reach agreements that meet public needs.
And I could go on.
Our economy has also faltered, Affordability has plummeted to historic lows. and Nearly one in five children now grows up in poverty.preparing them for obstacles as they age into adulthood.
But the point remains the same: it is time for the federal government to be bold, not just for Canadians but for its own survival.
Support for the Conservative Party of Canada is increasing.
Is this because Canadians have undergone a major ideological transformation in recent years?
It’s unlikely, and it remains to be seen whether Pierre Poilievre’s conservatives would do a better job governing anyway.
But after years of seeking support from the federal government that failed to materialize, it is inevitable that people will place their hopes elsewhere.
If Trudeau, Freeland and company want to have any hope of staying in power after the next election, they need a bold budget that shows Canadians that their government will take big steps to support them after all.
We will soon know if they comply.
Spencer van Vloten is a nationally published writer and community advocate. He received the BC Medal for Good Citizenship, the Vancouver Award of Excellence and was the Rick Hansen Foundation Difference Maker of the Year. You can find more of his work at SpencerV.ca or follow him on X in @SpencerVanCity