Submissions
Finance Committee Consultation – March 2022
Summary
In the 2021 Federal Budget, the federal government proposed to update the list of mental functions to assess for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to reduce delays and improve access to benefits. The CCA supports the proposed amendments that expands the eligibility criteria for the DTC. This will make it easier for Canadians with a disability to qualify for the tax credit. It is important to decrease barriers to access the DTC as it is required to access a variety of tax-related programs and benefits, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Child Disability Benefit and the disability supplement to the Canada Workers Benefit.
The aim of the proposed amendments and government policy is to reduce barriers for eligible Canadians to access the DTC. However, a major barrier for some Canadians is the inability of their chiropractor to certify for the DTC. For these Canadians, their chiropractor is often in the best position to assess the duration and effects of serious and chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, but it is not currently permitted under the Income Tax Act.
Recommendation
Implement the recommendation of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance and amend the Income Tax Act (1985), s. 118.4 (2) by adding chiropractors to the list of practitioners eligible to assess disability for the DTC.
Read our Finance Committee submission here
2022 Pre-Budget Submission – A Healthier Future for Canada: Responding to Covid-19 and Improving Access to Primary Healthcare
List of Recommendations:
A healthier future for Canada requires urgent efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and an increased focus on reducing the burden of back, neck and muscle pain and disease. The CCA recommends the government take the following immediate steps:
- Recommendation 1: That the government extend the mandate of the Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF) by an additional year to focus explicitly on developing an implementation strategy to address the epidemic of musculoskeletal pain and disease.
- Recommendation 2: That the government allow chiropractors to be assessors for the federal Disability Tax Credit Certificate.
- Recommendation 3: Ensure that chiropractic services are accessible by Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members by removing the requirement of physician referral and the cap on the number of treatment visits.
- Recommendation 4: That the government support small businesses by implementing its 2021 Budget commitment to reduce credit card transaction fees.
Co-development of distinctions-based indigenous health legislation submission
The CCA recently undertook efforts to understand the national state of First Nations’ access to chiropractic care and how that can be improved. Between May and November 2021, the CCA held interviews with Indigenous practitioners and members who have experience in providing care to Indigenous communities. We found that over the last 20 years national and provincial coverage for chiropractic care either declined or was completely removed. This has left Indigenous peoples across Canada with virtually no access to chiropractic care.
The lack of coverage for chiropractic services under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program represents the most significant barrier to care. All interviewed practitioners indicated that the vast majority of Indigenous peoples who sought treatment used to rely on the program to access chiropractic care.
House of Commons Standing Committee on Health: Study on Canada’s Health Workforce
Recommendations:
• Federal leadership in optimizing team-based care and interprofessional collaboration.
• Federal leadership on addressing the burden of MSK conditions by funding pilot projects that demonstrate innovative multi-disciplinary care for federal populations.
HUMA: Study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy
Recommendations
• Federal leadership in optimizing team-based care and interprofessional collaboration.
• Federal leadership on addressing the burden of MSK conditions by funding pilot projects that demonstrate innovative multi-disciplinary care for federal populations.
• Federal leadership on ensuring chiropractic care is integrated into interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams to help COVID-19 patients with MSK conditions recover.
Musculoskeletal Health: A priority for Canadians and Canada’s Economic Recovery
Recommendations:
The Canadian Chiropractic Association endorses the adoption of the following policy recommendations to promote active and healthy lifestyles for Canadians, and support an accelerated Canadian economic workforce recovery:
- Extend the mandate of the Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF) by an additional year to focus explicitly on developing an implementation strategy to address the epidemic of musculoskeletal pain and disease.
- Ensure that chiropractic services are accessible by Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members by removing the requirement of physician referral and the cap on the number of treatment visits.
Read our 2021 Policy Recommendations here.
2021 Pre-Budget Submission: A Healthier Future For Canada: Responding to COVID-19 and Improving Access to Primary Healthcare
A healthier future for Canada requires urgent efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and an increased focus on reducing the burden of musculoskeletal pain and disease.
As one of Canada’s largest primary contact healthcare professions and experts in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, as well as the management of pain caused by these conditions, Chiropractors are uniquely qualified to support efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Chiropractors can use their expertise to support vulnerable populations and address the impacts of one of the greatest healthcare burdens Canadians face: an epidemic of musculoskeletal pain and disease and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
COVID-19 Recovery Phase Recommendations
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed severe strain on Canada’s healthcare system. In addition to the burden of the virus itself, the pandemic has intensified pre-existing issues such as limited access to primary care and an overreliance on opioids for pain management.
This submission offers three recommendations from the Canadian Chiropractic Association that the
Government of Canada should implement as part of its COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Previous submissions
Joint Submission to the Subcommittee on Sport-Related Concussions in Canada
2019 Pre-Budget Submission: REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND CARE. A HEALTHIER CANADA
CCA Response to Consultation on Tax Planning Using Private Corporations: October 2017
CCA Submission to Join Action Plan to Address Problematic Opioid Use: 2017
A Better Approach to Pain Management: Responding to Canada’s Opioid Crisis: 2017
Pre-Budget Submission MSK Health: A Priority for Canadians: 2015
Presentation to the Standing Committee on Health: 2015