ISAC made the following five recommendations for the 2023 Federal budget:
Recommendation 1 – Implement the 10 employer-paid sick days that were legislated in Bill C-3. Fix Bill C-3 by removing the accrual model and replacing it with full access to 10 paid sick days per year immediately upon starting new employment and at the beginning of each calendar year.
Recommendation 2 – Reform Employment Insurance (EI) into a fair and accessible program for all workers by setting a cross-Canada qualifying rule of 360 hours or 12 weeks for all benefits and setting a benefit floor at $500 per week. Immediately extend the EI recovery measures in place during the pandemic, retroactive to September 24, 2022, until reforms are in place.
Recommendation 3 – Implement a Canada Disability Benefit that brings people living with disabilities above the poverty line, that uses the broadest possible definition of disability to determine eligibility and that is accessible to everyone who resides in Canada, regardless of their immigration status. Reduce barriers to tax filing to ensure people can access the benefit and include a timely appeal process through an accessible administrative tribunal.
Recommendation 4 – Address working-age single adult poverty by expanding the Canada Workers Benefit while reducing barriers to tax filing and ensuring a timely appeal process through an accessible administrative tribunal.
Recommendation 5 – Extend eligibility of the Canada Child Benefit to all children who reside in Canada, regardless of their immigration status. Invest in targeted community outreach strategies to ensure Indigenous communities can access the benefit and to reduce barriers.
The entire submission in English, French, PDF, and Word formats is posted in the Publications section of our website. You can also access the document by clicking on the following links:
ISAC 2023 Federal Budget Submission (PDF)
ISAC 2023 Federal Budget Submission (Word)