Podcast

The 2030 Project. Ending Poverty in Canada. 

Non-partisan, candid, and thought-provoking, The 2030 Project tackles some of the biggest and most social pressing issues facing Canada today, such as universal basic income, digital access, disability rights, and the future of work. 

What would it take to eliminate poverty in Canada by 2030?

After three years of consultations, legislative crafting, committee reviews and political pushing and pulling in the House of Commons and the Senate in Ottawa, the Canada Disability Benefit Act finally received royal assent on June 21, 2023. It is intended to raise those living with disabilities in Canada out of poverty. But can it? Will it? 

Join us for Season 3 of The 2030 Project Podcast, a special mini-series dedicated to the new Canada Disability Benefit. New episodes every Wednesday.

Learn more about each episode:  

  • Episode 1: A new dawn – Host Dave Trafford sits down with Neil Hetherington, CEO and Talia Bronstein, Vice President of Research & Advocacy, Daily Bread Food Bank to discuss what they’re looking to see in the new Canada Disability Benefit.
  • Episode 2: Nothing about us without us – Guests Rabia Khedr, National Director, Disability Without Poverty (DWP) and CEO, DEEN Support Services; Neil Belanger, CEO, Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) and the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS); and Amanda MacKenzie, National Director of Public Affairs, March of Dimes Canada discuss the importance of inclusion in co-designing the Canada Disability Benefit.
  • Episode 3: Who gets it? – Trevor Manson, Secretary Co-Chair, ODSP Action Coalition and Michelle Hewitt, Chair of the Board, Disability Without Poverty (DWP) join host Dave Trafford to discuss who should determine who is eligible for the program and how recipients will qualify for it.
  • Episode 4: How do you get it? – Guests Ron Anicich, Member, ODSP Action Coalition and an ODSP Recipient, Sarah Kennell, National Director of Public, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA); and Jonathan Lai, Executive Director, Autism Alliance discuss the accessibility of the program across Canada.
  • Episode 5: Is it enough? – Host Dave Trafford is joined by Andrea Hatala, Recipient Co-Chair, ODSP Action Coalition; Bill Adair, Executive Director, Spinal Cord Injury Canada; and Adrian Merdzan, Staff Lawyer, Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) to discuss how much money is needed to eliminate poverty among people with disabilities.
  • Episode 6: In conversation with Senator Petitclerc – The Honourable Chantal Petitclerc, a gold medal Paralympian and a sitting Senator from Quebec, joins host Dave Trafford. In this episode they discuss the perspectives and experiences as a policymaker living with a disability and the importance of co-design of the Canada Disability Benefit.
  • Episode 7: The finale: A chat with Minister Khera – In the final episode of season 3, the Honourable Kamal Khera, recently appointed Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, chats with host Dave Trafford. They discuss  how the Canada Disability Benefit will help break barriers down by fostering accessibility, inclusiveness and supporting employment efforts for persons with disabilities. She underlines that the Canada Disability Benefit is a supplement to, not a replacement for, other benefits received by persons with disabilities; and stresses the importance of increasing the financial stability of the most vulnerable by reducing the barriers they face.