Overview of the Promise

During his 2025 federal election campaign, Mark Carney, as the Liberal leader, promised to guarantee equal access to justice for people with disabilities. This was to be achieved by developing a Disability Justice Framework aimed at addressing long-standing inequities, biases, and systemic discrimination against persons with disabilities within the justice system and before the law. The framework was intended to tackle barriers in legal processes, ensure fair treatment, and promote inclusivity in Canada's justice institutions.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office in spring 2025 following the April federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has not announced or initiated any specific measures to develop the promised Disability Justice Framework. Instead, one of the first notable actions was the elimination of the dedicated cabinet position for Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities. This decision, part of a broader cabinet restructuring to create a smaller team, has been widely criticized by advocacy groups as a step backward for disability issues. Advocates argue that without a dedicated minister, issues like access to justice for people with disabilities are deprioritized, especially during a period of promised transformation and budget reviews.

No public consultations, working groups, or policy papers related to a Disability Justice Framework have been reported. The government's focus has shifted toward economic priorities, immigration reforms, and public service restructuring, with disability-related matters appearing to be absorbed into broader portfolios without specific emphasis on justice system reforms.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

To date, no legislation has been proposed or passed under the Carney government that directly relates to the development of a Disability Justice Framework or guarantees equal access to justice for people with disabilities. While the Canada Disability Benefit Act, inherited from the previous administration, is set to roll out in July 2025, it focuses on financial support rather than justice system reforms. This benefit provides up to $2,400 annually to eligible working-age Canadians with disabilities but does not address inequities in legal access, biases in court proceedings, or discrimination before the law. No amendments or new bills have been introduced to expand this into justice-related areas. Advocacy groups have expressed concerns that the lack of a dedicated minister could delay or weaken implementation of even existing disability supports, but no justice-specific legislation has emerged.

Progress on Key Points of the Promise

The promise hinges on developing a framework to address inequities, biases, and systemic discrimination in the justice system. As of August 29, 2025, there is no evidence of progress on this development. No framework has been outlined, and the removal of the disabilities minister suggests a lack of prioritization, potentially exacerbating existing barriers rather than addressing them. Advocates have highlighted that without targeted action, persons with disabilities continue to face challenges such as inaccessible courtrooms, lack of accommodations in legal proceedings, and discriminatory practices, which the promised framework was meant to rectify.

If this promise were to move forward, the government would need to initiate consultations with disability rights organizations, draft and release a framework document, and integrate it into justice system policies, potentially through new legislation or amendments to existing laws like the Accessible Canada Act. However, ongoing budget cuts and public service reviews could pose a risk of being broken if resources are not allocated, or if the issue remains sidelined without a dedicated cabinet voice.

Overall Status

This promise is not started.