The British Columbia government is celebrating prematurely by claiming it has fulfilled its commitment to eliminate one of the province's most discriminatory policies affecting people with disabilities.
The Broken Promise
Late last year, in the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord, the BC NDP and Greens made a long-awaited pledge to end what advocates called an unfair policy that has harmed disabled residents for decades. The spousal cap rule effectively denies provincial disability support to individuals who have a working partner, even when that partner earns only minimum wage.
This poverty-perpetuating policy fails to account for modern financial realities where two incomes are often necessary for household survival. More troubling, it forces people to choose between romantic relationships and financial security, creating an impossible dilemma for thousands of British Columbians with disabilities.
The Human Cost
The consequences of this policy have been devastating. Many disabled individuals have been compelled to conceal their relationships or end them entirely to maintain eligibility for essential disability assistance. Others find themselves trapped in unsafe or abusive situations because they cannot afford to leave due to financial dependence.
Life already presents significant challenges for people with disabilities in BC. Even with full disability assistance, they experience some of the highest poverty rates in the province, with incomes roughly $10,000 below the provincial poverty line. The spousal cap adds another layer of difficulty—one that isolates, punishes, and dehumanizes vulnerable citizens.
Government Inaction
The commitment to "can the cap" in 2025 initially brought hope to the nearly 43,000 people who signed petitions demanding change. However, months of radio silence followed the announcement. When Spencer van Vloten followed up with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in May 2025, the response consisted of vague government language claiming work was underway.
When pressed for specifics, officials refused to disclose what that work involved, how much progress had been made, or when affected individuals could expect relief. Despite this lack of transparency, advocates gave the government the benefit of the doubt, hoping genuine progress was being made behind the scenes.
Now, after additional silence and numerous unaddressed inquiries from concerned community members, the government has announced it has delivered on its commitment. However, the reality appears far different from the promised comprehensive reform, leaving the most significant barriers firmly in place for British Columbians with disabilities who have working partners.
