Lembi Buchanan is a leading advocate for Canadians living with mental illness to ensure that government programs and policies do not discriminate against them. She played a crucial role in reforming the Income Tax Act to broaden the eligibility criteria for the Disability Tax Credit to include psychiatric disorders and other episodic disabilities. Lembi credits her husband, James who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for the inspiration and support to take on the Canada Revenue Agency when it failed to recognize the devastating impact of a dangerous and deadly disease that threatens to unravel the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadians and their families over and over again. She appealed to the Tax Court of Canada on his behalf and the landmark case was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.

In 2001, Lembi established the “Fighting for Fairness” campaign and spearheaded the Coalition for Disability Tax Credit Reform that successfully lobbied the government and led to major amendments in the Income Tax Act. She was subsequently appointed to several federal advisory committees that have led to major improvements in the administration of tax credits for all Canadians with disabilities.

Lembi is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal for her advocacy work by His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston on March 4, 2016. She has also received numerous other awards, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in October 2002 and the City of Toronto Access Award for Disability Issues in December 2001. 

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Lembi’s interest in social justice dates back to her early experiences working with disadvantaged families in New York City. In this remarkable memoir spanning 50 years, Lembi shares intimate details of a love story destined to last forever providing hope for others facing similar challenges.