Caring for children with disabilities is a daily concern for many Canadians, especially as parents' age and begin to worry about their children's future.

The federal government, in their 2007 budget, established the Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP), a plan to assist parents, grandparents and other family members to save for the long-term financial security of children with disabilities; very similar to the RESP (Registered Education Saving Plan).

In order for the RDSP to work for families, each provincial and territorial government needs to introduce changes to ensure that families who put money away in a RDSP are not penalized by having the savings considered an asset when calculating other provincial assistance programs such as Ontario Disability Pension Plan (ODSP). At present, British Columbia, Newfoundland and the Yukon have already taken steps to make this change.

As Progressive Conservative Critic for the Ministry of Community and Social Services, I introduced a private member's bill (94) to address the inequity in Ontario. After speaking with families who were trying to plan for the financial future for their disabled children, I drafted the Social Assistance Statues Law Amendment Act (Registered Disability Savings Plans), 2008. The purpose of my private member's bill is to allow Ontario families to save by removing the RDSP as an asset when calculating monthly disability benefits.

In a statement to the Legislature, prior to the bill's introduction, I explained the reasoning behind my proposed legislation. "If the RDSP is not exempt as an asset when determining a person's eligibility for disability benefits, the monthly amount will decrease. This removes any incentive for parents to make an investment in their child's longterm financial security."

The RDSP as well as the Social Assistance Statues Law Amendment Act (Registered Disability Savings Plans), 2008, together provides Ontario families with a more secure future for persons with disabilities. It's an opportunity to plan financially for a time when parents are no longer living or are unable to act as primary caregivers for their disabled children. They can leave funds directly to their family members that cannot be clawed back from other provincial income support.

Canada is the first country to address families' concern for the financial well being of their children's future by implementing a Registered Disability Savings Plan. If enacted, my bill would make Ontario the fourth province or territory in Canada to exempt the RDSP as an asset when calculating disability benefits. The movement towards RDSP-type legislation is growing in the United States, Australia and New Zealand as more countries realize the need for a secure future for disabled persons after their aging parents and caregivers are no longer able to look after them.

If you would like a copy of Bill 94 or have any questions, please contact my community office at 1-800- 265-1603.