Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

April 23, 2014 – Richmond, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Government of Canada is helping Canadians with disabilities develop the skills and experience they need to find jobs, today announced the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development.

The Richmond Centre for Disability is receiving more than $176,000 to help 70 Canadians with disabilities in Richmond overcome barriers to employment.

This includes providing employment services and interventions tailored to meet their needs that will help them to participate in the labour market to the best of their ability, while giving employers better access to a pool of talented employees.

The Government of Canada is committed to improving opportunities for Canadians with disabilities as part of its ongoing efforts to create a more productive workforce and a stronger economy.

Quick Facts

• Since 2006, the Government of Canada has helped over 34,600 Canadians with disabilities across Canada develop the skills and experience they need to find jobs.
• Recently, Minister Kenney announced that the governments of Canada and British Columbia have signed a renewed Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities that will better meet the employment needs of Canadian businesses and improve the employment prospects for Canadians with disabilities, helping residents in British Columbia get skills and training to find jobs.
• Economic Action Plan 2014 proposed an investment of $15 million over three years to the Ready, Willing & Able initiative of the Canadian Association for Community Living to connect Canadians with developmental disabilities with jobs. It is also investing $11.4 million over four years to support the Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada to expand vocational training programs for Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Quotes

“Canadians with disabilities have a tremendous amount to offer employers, but they remain under-represented in our workforce. To support Canada’s long-term prosperity, we must ensure that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so. Canadians with disabilities face particular challenges entering the job market, and that’s why partnerships with organizations like the Richmond Center for Disability are so important.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities program objectives are in line with the Richmond Centre for Disability’s mission to empower people with disabilities to participate in the community to the level of their desires and abilities. It is my firm conviction that employment is the true ticket to inclusion and a way to overcome economic marginalization for people with disabilities.”

– Louise Gaudry, Career Development Facilitator of the Resources for Career Development Project

Associated Link

• Funding: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
• Economic Action Plan 2013: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

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Contacts

Alexandra Fortier
Office of the Minister
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Backgrounder

The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities helps Canadians with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment or become self-employed.

Economic Action Plan 2013 announced a $10 million increase in ongoing funding, to $40 million annually, for the Opportunities Fund. Employers and community organizations will also be involved in designing and delivering the project.

In addition, through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada is:

• providing $15 million over three years to the Ready, Willing & Able initiative of the Canadian Association for Community Living to help connect Canadians with developmental disabilities with jobs; and
• $11.4 million over four years to support the expansion of vocational training programs for Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

To further help Canadians with disabilities in the workforce, the Government:

• introduced a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities with an investment of $222 million per year to better meet the employment needs of Canadian businesses and improve the employment prospects for people with disabilities;
• extended the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces; and
• provided funding of $7 million per year for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, some of which will support research related to the labour market participation of people with disabilities.

Other measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them with the skills and training they need include the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups, including people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, newcomers and youth.

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