Every Canadian Counts is addressing the needs of one of the most disadvantaged and impoverished populations in Canada: people with chronic disabilities. A strong link exists between chronic disability and insecurity in terms of income, health, access to needed supports, and housing. If any one of these pillars collapses, Canadians with disabilities and their families risk falling into poverty – and many do. 

Any Canadian can become disabled at any time through accident or illness, so Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy should prioritize creation of a national disability support program that is fair and portable, sets minimum standards for service provision, and covers essential disability supports. This program would alleviate risk of poverty for Canadian households affected by disability and enhance their ability to participate in and contribute to society.