Home / Health / Advocate Launches Petition to End Taxes on Virtual Disability Services
Advocate Launches Petition to End Taxes on Virtual Disability Services
6 Aug
Summary
- Waterloo-based advocate Abigail Murphy launches petition to cut taxes on virtual disability support services
- Canadians with disabilities pay taxes on virtual services but not in-person services
- Petition aims to save people with disabilities up to $900 per year
In August 2025, a Waterloo-based advocate named Abigail Murphy has launched a petition for the second time, seeking to cut taxes on virtual support services for people with disabilities. Last November, Murphy started a similar petition, but it was automatically dissolved when an election was called earlier this year.
Despite the setback, Murphy is determined to see this change through. She has gathered over 200 signatures so far and is aiming to reach the 500 required by the end of October. Murphy explains that the current tax rules are outdated, as most disability services moved to a virtual format during the pandemic and have remained that way.
The issue is that Canadians with disabilities do not have to pay taxes for in-person services, but they are required to pay taxes if they access the same services virtually. This can cost people with disabilities hundreds of dollars per year. Murphy says this is a significant problem, as around 40% of Canadians living with disabilities are below the poverty line.
To help drive the petition forward, Murphy has enlisted the support of Elizabeth May, the leader of the federal Green Party. May has agreed to take the petition to Parliament this fall, urging the new Minister of Finance to quickly update the tax code and eliminate this unfair discrepancy.
