Ottawa, ON — September 23, 2026 — The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) is back in Ottawa, calling on the federal government to include chiropractors in the latest changes to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
Millions of Canadians living with chronic pain and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions rely on chiropractors as a primary source of care. However, to complete DTC certification, many patients have no choice but to find an additional health care provider — creating a real barrier.
Adding chiropractors to the DTC certification process would:
- Improve access for Canadians already receiving ongoing chiropractic care for mobility-related limitations.
- Reduce unnecessary administrative burden on family physicians and other primary care providers.
- Reduce duplication by allowing the health care professional already assessing a patient’s functional limitations to complete the appropriate certification.
- Support mobility and independence for Canadians living with significant MSK limitations.
- Make better use of Canada’s regulated health care workforce without creating a new program or increasing the cost of the DTC.
“The time is now for the government to listen to Canadians and add chiropractors to the DTC,” said Dr. Ayla Azad, CEO of the CCA. “Ahead of our strategic meetings in Ottawa, more than 6,000 letters were sent to MPs, Senators, and key political groups — supporting the CCA’s push for a DTC system that reflects modern, accessible, and multidisciplinary health care.”
Draft legislative proposals released by the Department of Finance in July 2026 would expand the list of health care professionals able to certify certain DTC eligibility requirements, including impairments affecting walking.
“I recently spoke with a DTC patient in British Columbia, Stephanie Kallstrom, whose chiropractor plays an integral role in her overall care. She experienced firsthand how long and complicated getting on this benefit can be and she is doing her part to ensure fellow patients don’t share the same fate,” adds Dr. Azad. “Patience is wearing thin on a change that should have been made years ago. In 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance specifically recommended adding chiropractors to the DTC.”
“Patients across Canada are speaking up in letters to key government officials. It’s no longer the time for contemplation, but action. The government has an opportunity right now to finally close this gap,” said Dr. Jaipaul Parmar, Board Chair of the CCA. “Canadians deserve a DTC system that reflects how they access care today. Adding chiropractors to this benefit is long overdue.”
In addition to meeting with MPs, Senators, and federal decision-makers in Ottawa, the CCA continues to collaborate with partners, including the Canadian Medical Association and Disability Without Poverty, to advance practical solutions that improve access for Canadians while reducing administrative strain on the health care system.
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About the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA)
The CCA represents over 8,000 Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) across Canada who treat and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that impact the health of millions of Canadians. Every year, at least 4.7 million Canadians rely on DCs to help manage the serious burden of MSK pain and disease. As one of Canada’s largest primary contact health care professions, DCs provide evidence-based, non-invasive, drug-free manual therapies.
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