Today, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, announced funding for two organizations in Victoria that will go towards projects that support people with disabilities.

“Canada is at its best and all of society benefits when everyone is included. That is why I was happy to announce funding for two important organizations that make it their mission to break down barriers for all Canadians. By bringing together academics, professionals and disability stakeholders from all over the world to share their knowledge and generate valuable ideas, the conference hosted by Pacific Coast University will help ensure that Canadians with disabilities are able to fully participate in their workplaces and communities. Through its important work with First Nation communities, BCANDS ensures everyone has their voice heard as we continue our work on the Federal Accessibility Legislation. I thank these organizations for their continued advocacy.”
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

“We are very grateful for the significant support that the Government of Canada has provided, especially when considering recent reports that indicate 23 percent of all people living in poverty across Canada are persons with mental or physical health impairments, and in excess of 80 percent of impairments are acquired during a person’s working life, and therefore effective and collaborative workplace efforts in job retention and return to work can have a significant impact on changing this narrative.”
– Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of Pacific Coast University – Workplace Health Sciences

“The ability to be included as active members of our communities politically, socially and economically continues to present barriers for many persons living with disability in Canada. From late 2016 to March 2018, the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, with support from Employment and Social Development Canada, began the process of identifying those barriers, as told to us by First Nation communities across Canada. Through this engagement process a number of key areas were identified. This information was forwarded to the federal government to assist in the development of new Federal Accessibility Legislation, ensuring that First Nation barriers, priorities and recommendations were known and incorporated. We are very pleased to have our contract extended for another year, with the new focus of raising awareness of the new Federal Accessibility Legislation and the opportunities for First Nation communities, and their members, to provide their input and recommendations to the legislation once tabled.”
– Neil Belanger, Executive Director, British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)

• The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) helps improve the lives of children and families, people with disabilities and other vulnerable Canadians. The SDPP has two funding components: Disability; and Children and Families.

• The Disability Component of the SDPP supports projects intended to improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society.

• In 2012, about 14 percent of the Canadian population aged 15 years or older—one in seven Canadians—reported having a disability that limited their daily activities. That number is expected to grow with an aging population.

Associated links

• Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component
• International Forum on Disability Management
• British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society

For media enquiries, please contact:

Annabelle Archambault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967
Annabelle.archambault@canada.ca

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