Pass Jas’ Law: End Disability Poverty and Anti‑Love Policies in Canada #fourlittlefeet
Pass Jas’ Law: End Disability Poverty and Anti‑Love Policies in Canada #fourlittlefeet
The Issue
To: [Prime Minister / Federal Minister of Disabilities / Provincial Premiers / Social Development Ministers]
We live in a country that still speaks the language of compassion and “family values” — but our policies tell a different story.
Right now, disability income supports in Canada keep people poor by design and quietly punish us for love, partnership, and family.
The reality
- More than 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada live below the poverty line.[1][3][4]
- Poverty rates for disabled people are about twice as high as for non‑disabled people.[3][4]
- People with disabilities would need about 30% more income just to reach the poverty line.[3]
- The new Canada Disability Benefit is capped at $200 per month — about $6 a day — which experts agree is far too low to close the poverty gap.[2][5][6][7]
- Analysis shows that even with this benefit, disabled people in no province are actually lifted above the poverty line; in many places we are not even out of deep poverty.[2][5][6]
In real life, this means many disabled people are trapped at around half of a livable income once rent, food, and disability‑related costs are counted.[3][4][6]
On top of that, benefit rules have long punished love:
- “Spousal” and household‑income rules have reduced or eliminated benefits when disabled people marry, move in with a partner, or otherwise form families.
- Provinces like BC are only now beginning to remove some “spousal clawbacks,” after years of advocacy, and gaps still remain for many couples.[8]
These are anti‑love policies. They make romance, cohabitation, marriage, and parenting dangerous for disabled people in a way they are not for everyone else.
The human cost
Policy doesn’t just empty wallets; it empties rooms.
There are apartments across this country that should be loud with children’s laughter — and they are quiet. Not by accident, but because disabled people get the message in numbers and in rules: “You can’t afford kids. You shouldn’t risk it.”
- Four little feet that should have thundered down the hall never hit the floor.
- Crayon that should have scribbled on the walls never touched the paint.
- Morning cartoons in pajamas, spilled cereal, weekend cuddles on the couch never happened.
- Adult children who might have checked on us in old age, brought groceries, argued with doctors, and fought for our care never existed, because the system made building a family feel irresponsible, impossible, or selfish.
At the same time, disability, poverty, and isolation are tightly linked to worse mental health and higher distress.[3][4][6] And when people finally break under that load, the one thing they all know about is a crisis hotline.
The unspoken offer is:
“We will keep you below the poverty line.
We will punish you economically for love.
We will leave you isolated.
And if that makes you want to die, here is a phone number.”
That is not a safety net. That is systemic abandonment.
Jas’ Law: what we are demanding
Jas’ Law is a simple, concrete proposal that says:
> No disabled person should be forced to live below the poverty line or punished for love, partnership, or family through income supports and benefit rules.
We are calling on federal, provincial, and territorial governments to pass legislation that does three things:
1. End disability poverty
- Set combined disability income (provincial/territorial + federal) at or above the Official Poverty Line (Market Basket Measure) for each region and household type.[3][4][6]
- Treat the Canada Disability Benefit as a supplement, not a substitution: provinces and territories must not claw it back or use it as an excuse to keep their own rates low.[2][5][6]
- Index disability income to the real cost of living annually so disabled people do not fall behind again as prices rise.[3][4][6]
2. End anti‑love policies
- Fully abolish spousal caps, clawbacks, and household rules that reduce a disabled person’s benefits because they marry, cohabit, or have children.[8]
- Ensure each adult keeps their own benefit entitlement and earnings exemption; a partner’s income must not replace disability income.
- Protect disabled parents so their own disability income is not reduced simply because they have children; child benefits must be on top, not instead.
3. Lock in accountability
- Bring benefits up to the poverty line within 12 months, not on a vague “someday” timeline.
- Ban future governments from pushing disability income back below the poverty line or re‑introducing relationship penalties without a supermajority vote and full public justification.
- Require annual public reporting on disability income vs the poverty line and on any remaining relationship‑based penalties so the public can see, every year, whether governments are keeping their promises.[3][4][6]
Why this matters
This is not just about money, though money is part of it. It is about whether disabled people are allowed to:
- Have four little feet in their hallways
- Have crayon on their walls and morning cartoons on TV
- Have partners move in without financial punishment
- Have adult children who visit in old age
- Live in community instead of isolation
- Experience love without having to choose between rent and romance
Right now, policy is stealing futures that never even get the chance to begin.
We refuse to accept that disabled lives are worth half as much. We refuse to accept that love and family are luxuries we are not allowed. We refuse to accept a system that offers us a hotline instead of a life.
What we are asking you to do
We, the undersigned, call on:
- The Government of Canada
- All provincial and territorial governments
- Relevant ministers responsible for social development, disability, and poverty reduction
to:
1. Publicly commit to the principles of Jas’ Law:
- No disability poverty
- No relationship penalties
2. Introduce and pass legislation that:
- Raises disability income to at least the poverty line (MBM), indexed annually
- Fully abolishes spousal caps, clawbacks, and other relationship‑based penalties
- Locks in these protections with strong accountability and reporting
3. Work with disabled people and disability organizations to design and implement Jas’ Law so that it reflects real lived experience.
Disabled neighbours are here. We are not mistakes. We are not clutter. We are people who were meant to have kids, partners, laughter, care in old age, and a life that is more than survival.
Jas’ Law is the bare minimum.
Sign this petition if you believe that disabled people deserve:
- Enough to live
- The freedom to love
- The right to grow old in community, not in isolation
Because if we treat disabled people as clutter to be managed instead of neighbours to be loved, the real poverty in this country is not ours — it’s everyone else’s.
Sources (for further reading and verification):
1. Campaign 2000 – “2024 Disability Report: Canada earns an F on addressing disability poverty”
- Summary of disability poverty in Canada; shows disabled people have poverty rates about twice as high as non‑disabled people and need ~30% more income to reach the poverty line.
- https://campaign2000.ca/2024-disability-report-canada-earns-an-f-on-addressing-disability-poverty/
- Full 2024 Disability Poverty Report Card (PDF):
https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Disability-Poverty-Report-Card-2024-English.pdf
2. Campaign 2000 – 2025 Disability Poverty Report Card (PDF)
- Updated data on disability poverty, deep poverty, and the gap between current income and the Market Basket Measure (poverty line).
- https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Disability-Poverty-Report-Card-FINAL-English.pdf
3. Canadian Labour Congress – “People with disabilities deserve better from the Canada Disability Benefit”
- Explains that over 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada live in poverty and that disability poverty rates are about double those of non‑disabled people.
- https://canadianlabour.ca/people-with-disabilities-deserve-better-from-the-canada-disability-benefit/
4. Policy Options / IRPP – “Retool the Canada Disability Benefit to end disability poverty”
- Argues that the planned Canada Disability Benefit amount is far too low to end disability poverty and would need to be several times higher to close the gap.
- https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2024/11/canada-disability-benefit-poverty/
5. Cardus – “Still Not Enough”
- 2026 analysis of the Canada Disability Benefit, showing that the $200/month design is inadequate and will not lift disabled people above the poverty line.
- https://www.cardus.ca/research/still-not-enough/
6. Maytree / Other analysis – “Why the Canada Disability Benefit won’t end disability poverty and how it could”
- Explains why a low benefit (around $200/month) cannot by itself end disability poverty and proposes stronger design.
- https://maytree.com/publications/why-the-canada-disability-benefit-wont-end-disability-poverty-and-how-it-could/
7. CUPE – Submission on Canada Disability Benefit Regulations (PDF)
- Union critique of the proposed CDB regulations, arguing against clawbacks and for higher benefit levels and true poverty‑line coverage.
- https://cupe.ca/sites/default/files/submission_canada_disability_benefit_regulations_2024-09-23.pdf
8. Government of Canada – “Canada Disability Benefit Regulations”
- Official federal regulations describing the Canada Disability Benefit, including maximum amounts and design (for contrast with what advocates say is needed).
- https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2024/2024-06-29/html/reg2-eng.html
9. Disability Alliance BC – “Province announces changes to spousal clawbacks”
- Details recent BC changes to spousal income and earnings exemptions for people on disability assistance, showing both progress and remaining gaps.
- https://disabilityalliancebc.org/province-announces-changes-to-spousal-clawbacks/
10. BC Government News Release – “Barriers removed for couples in B.C. receiving disability assistance”
- Official statement on ending some disability spousal caps and clawbacks in BC.
- https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025SDPR0017-001110
11. BC Greens – “BC Ends Disability Clawbacks: Justice for Couples”
- Political summary of the changes to spousal caps/clawbacks for people on disability assistance in BC.
- https://bcgreens.ca/carga-update-bc-ends-spousal-caps-and-clawbacks-expanding-support-for-people-living-with-a-disability/
12. BC Disability – “Increase BC PWD 2025!”
- Advocacy explanation of current PWD rates (around $17,802/year) and how far they fall below the poverty line (~$25,000+), showing the $5,000–$7,500 annual gap.
- https://www.bcdisability.com/pwd
13. Justice Canada – “Serious Problems Experienced by People with Disabilities in Canada” (Findings and Conclusions)
- Documents serious legal and social problems faced by disabled people, including income insecurity and barriers that contribute to social isolation.
- https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/pwdac-phca/findings-conclusions.html
More on Jas’ Law (full documents)
For anyone who wants to read the full text of Jas’ Law, share it in your own community, or bring it into meetings with faith leaders, MLAs/MPs, or organizations, here are detailed documents you can print or email:
- Intro – Jas’ Law: Why It Exists
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQLNeawf71U4N9Uu1JK4h5hZdVYLypgI0M6IDa0DzDWeGlpWTMsbqiouaowCFDPoWLB6muyo6DvhtaR/pub
- The Act – Jas’ Law: Legislative Framework (draft law text)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRFNZLiATSZ4Idkqz26Z7ROcsHz2hQDSUBvsvYw7dpsfiwr9cEfYVWX44w1Mbzcg5kh1g4YbAJg2vnD/pub
- Complete Manifesto – Jas’ Law
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ-9h4q0PnNAkuAK8X_sObKXXbUDewF6cPQNfMbqzwV7zCEDjnoozd_HXWDBGKj4itE0J0syhIQXqoP/pub
- Call to Arms – Jas’ Law (for faith communities, professionals, and neighbors)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vThXpk_B5iJ5_1JQ_9YrAvCr36ua03iBqiE_7oKnUsLv42GxFJOILgYpgF6Cfe78XI3jIwF2fAB06AZ/pub
220
The Issue
To: [Prime Minister / Federal Minister of Disabilities / Provincial Premiers / Social Development Ministers]
We live in a country that still speaks the language of compassion and “family values” — but our policies tell a different story.
Right now, disability income supports in Canada keep people poor by design and quietly punish us for love, partnership, and family.
The reality
- More than 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada live below the poverty line.[1][3][4]
- Poverty rates for disabled people are about twice as high as for non‑disabled people.[3][4]
- People with disabilities would need about 30% more income just to reach the poverty line.[3]
- The new Canada Disability Benefit is capped at $200 per month — about $6 a day — which experts agree is far too low to close the poverty gap.[2][5][6][7]
- Analysis shows that even with this benefit, disabled people in no province are actually lifted above the poverty line; in many places we are not even out of deep poverty.[2][5][6]
In real life, this means many disabled people are trapped at around half of a livable income once rent, food, and disability‑related costs are counted.[3][4][6]
On top of that, benefit rules have long punished love:
- “Spousal” and household‑income rules have reduced or eliminated benefits when disabled people marry, move in with a partner, or otherwise form families.
- Provinces like BC are only now beginning to remove some “spousal clawbacks,” after years of advocacy, and gaps still remain for many couples.[8]
These are anti‑love policies. They make romance, cohabitation, marriage, and parenting dangerous for disabled people in a way they are not for everyone else.
The human cost
Policy doesn’t just empty wallets; it empties rooms.
There are apartments across this country that should be loud with children’s laughter — and they are quiet. Not by accident, but because disabled people get the message in numbers and in rules: “You can’t afford kids. You shouldn’t risk it.”
- Four little feet that should have thundered down the hall never hit the floor.
- Crayon that should have scribbled on the walls never touched the paint.
- Morning cartoons in pajamas, spilled cereal, weekend cuddles on the couch never happened.
- Adult children who might have checked on us in old age, brought groceries, argued with doctors, and fought for our care never existed, because the system made building a family feel irresponsible, impossible, or selfish.
At the same time, disability, poverty, and isolation are tightly linked to worse mental health and higher distress.[3][4][6] And when people finally break under that load, the one thing they all know about is a crisis hotline.
The unspoken offer is:
“We will keep you below the poverty line.
We will punish you economically for love.
We will leave you isolated.
And if that makes you want to die, here is a phone number.”
That is not a safety net. That is systemic abandonment.
Jas’ Law: what we are demanding
Jas’ Law is a simple, concrete proposal that says:
> No disabled person should be forced to live below the poverty line or punished for love, partnership, or family through income supports and benefit rules.
We are calling on federal, provincial, and territorial governments to pass legislation that does three things:
1. End disability poverty
- Set combined disability income (provincial/territorial + federal) at or above the Official Poverty Line (Market Basket Measure) for each region and household type.[3][4][6]
- Treat the Canada Disability Benefit as a supplement, not a substitution: provinces and territories must not claw it back or use it as an excuse to keep their own rates low.[2][5][6]
- Index disability income to the real cost of living annually so disabled people do not fall behind again as prices rise.[3][4][6]
2. End anti‑love policies
- Fully abolish spousal caps, clawbacks, and household rules that reduce a disabled person’s benefits because they marry, cohabit, or have children.[8]
- Ensure each adult keeps their own benefit entitlement and earnings exemption; a partner’s income must not replace disability income.
- Protect disabled parents so their own disability income is not reduced simply because they have children; child benefits must be on top, not instead.
3. Lock in accountability
- Bring benefits up to the poverty line within 12 months, not on a vague “someday” timeline.
- Ban future governments from pushing disability income back below the poverty line or re‑introducing relationship penalties without a supermajority vote and full public justification.
- Require annual public reporting on disability income vs the poverty line and on any remaining relationship‑based penalties so the public can see, every year, whether governments are keeping their promises.[3][4][6]
Why this matters
This is not just about money, though money is part of it. It is about whether disabled people are allowed to:
- Have four little feet in their hallways
- Have crayon on their walls and morning cartoons on TV
- Have partners move in without financial punishment
- Have adult children who visit in old age
- Live in community instead of isolation
- Experience love without having to choose between rent and romance
Right now, policy is stealing futures that never even get the chance to begin.
We refuse to accept that disabled lives are worth half as much. We refuse to accept that love and family are luxuries we are not allowed. We refuse to accept a system that offers us a hotline instead of a life.
What we are asking you to do
We, the undersigned, call on:
- The Government of Canada
- All provincial and territorial governments
- Relevant ministers responsible for social development, disability, and poverty reduction
to:
1. Publicly commit to the principles of Jas’ Law:
- No disability poverty
- No relationship penalties
2. Introduce and pass legislation that:
- Raises disability income to at least the poverty line (MBM), indexed annually
- Fully abolishes spousal caps, clawbacks, and other relationship‑based penalties
- Locks in these protections with strong accountability and reporting
3. Work with disabled people and disability organizations to design and implement Jas’ Law so that it reflects real lived experience.
Disabled neighbours are here. We are not mistakes. We are not clutter. We are people who were meant to have kids, partners, laughter, care in old age, and a life that is more than survival.
Jas’ Law is the bare minimum.
Sign this petition if you believe that disabled people deserve:
- Enough to live
- The freedom to love
- The right to grow old in community, not in isolation
Because if we treat disabled people as clutter to be managed instead of neighbours to be loved, the real poverty in this country is not ours — it’s everyone else’s.
Sources (for further reading and verification):
1. Campaign 2000 – “2024 Disability Report: Canada earns an F on addressing disability poverty”
- Summary of disability poverty in Canada; shows disabled people have poverty rates about twice as high as non‑disabled people and need ~30% more income to reach the poverty line.
- https://campaign2000.ca/2024-disability-report-canada-earns-an-f-on-addressing-disability-poverty/
- Full 2024 Disability Poverty Report Card (PDF):
https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Disability-Poverty-Report-Card-2024-English.pdf
2. Campaign 2000 – 2025 Disability Poverty Report Card (PDF)
- Updated data on disability poverty, deep poverty, and the gap between current income and the Market Basket Measure (poverty line).
- https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Disability-Poverty-Report-Card-FINAL-English.pdf
3. Canadian Labour Congress – “People with disabilities deserve better from the Canada Disability Benefit”
- Explains that over 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada live in poverty and that disability poverty rates are about double those of non‑disabled people.
- https://canadianlabour.ca/people-with-disabilities-deserve-better-from-the-canada-disability-benefit/
4. Policy Options / IRPP – “Retool the Canada Disability Benefit to end disability poverty”
- Argues that the planned Canada Disability Benefit amount is far too low to end disability poverty and would need to be several times higher to close the gap.
- https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2024/11/canada-disability-benefit-poverty/
5. Cardus – “Still Not Enough”
- 2026 analysis of the Canada Disability Benefit, showing that the $200/month design is inadequate and will not lift disabled people above the poverty line.
- https://www.cardus.ca/research/still-not-enough/
6. Maytree / Other analysis – “Why the Canada Disability Benefit won’t end disability poverty and how it could”
- Explains why a low benefit (around $200/month) cannot by itself end disability poverty and proposes stronger design.
- https://maytree.com/publications/why-the-canada-disability-benefit-wont-end-disability-poverty-and-how-it-could/
7. CUPE – Submission on Canada Disability Benefit Regulations (PDF)
- Union critique of the proposed CDB regulations, arguing against clawbacks and for higher benefit levels and true poverty‑line coverage.
- https://cupe.ca/sites/default/files/submission_canada_disability_benefit_regulations_2024-09-23.pdf
8. Government of Canada – “Canada Disability Benefit Regulations”
- Official federal regulations describing the Canada Disability Benefit, including maximum amounts and design (for contrast with what advocates say is needed).
- https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2024/2024-06-29/html/reg2-eng.html
9. Disability Alliance BC – “Province announces changes to spousal clawbacks”
- Details recent BC changes to spousal income and earnings exemptions for people on disability assistance, showing both progress and remaining gaps.
- https://disabilityalliancebc.org/province-announces-changes-to-spousal-clawbacks/
10. BC Government News Release – “Barriers removed for couples in B.C. receiving disability assistance”
- Official statement on ending some disability spousal caps and clawbacks in BC.
- https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025SDPR0017-001110
11. BC Greens – “BC Ends Disability Clawbacks: Justice for Couples”
- Political summary of the changes to spousal caps/clawbacks for people on disability assistance in BC.
- https://bcgreens.ca/carga-update-bc-ends-spousal-caps-and-clawbacks-expanding-support-for-people-living-with-a-disability/
12. BC Disability – “Increase BC PWD 2025!”
- Advocacy explanation of current PWD rates (around $17,802/year) and how far they fall below the poverty line (~$25,000+), showing the $5,000–$7,500 annual gap.
- https://www.bcdisability.com/pwd
13. Justice Canada – “Serious Problems Experienced by People with Disabilities in Canada” (Findings and Conclusions)
- Documents serious legal and social problems faced by disabled people, including income insecurity and barriers that contribute to social isolation.
- https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/pwdac-phca/findings-conclusions.html
More on Jas’ Law (full documents)
For anyone who wants to read the full text of Jas’ Law, share it in your own community, or bring it into meetings with faith leaders, MLAs/MPs, or organizations, here are detailed documents you can print or email:
- Intro – Jas’ Law: Why It Exists
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQLNeawf71U4N9Uu1JK4h5hZdVYLypgI0M6IDa0DzDWeGlpWTMsbqiouaowCFDPoWLB6muyo6DvhtaR/pub
- The Act – Jas’ Law: Legislative Framework (draft law text)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRFNZLiATSZ4Idkqz26Z7ROcsHz2hQDSUBvsvYw7dpsfiwr9cEfYVWX44w1Mbzcg5kh1g4YbAJg2vnD/pub
- Complete Manifesto – Jas’ Law
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ-9h4q0PnNAkuAK8X_sObKXXbUDewF6cPQNfMbqzwV7zCEDjnoozd_HXWDBGKj4itE0J0syhIQXqoP/pub
- Call to Arms – Jas’ Law (for faith communities, professionals, and neighbors)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vThXpk_B5iJ5_1JQ_9YrAvCr36ua03iBqiE_7oKnUsLv42GxFJOILgYpgF6Cfe78XI3jIwF2fAB06AZ/pub
220
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Petition created on February 2, 2026