The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities and has shed light on the number of Canadians that continue to face barriers to full inclusion in their communities and workplaces. One of the many ways the Government of Canada is taking action to break down those barriers is through funding programs like the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF).

“When barriers to accessibility and inclusion are removed, Canadians with disabilities can participate fully, helping our communities thrive and our economy prosper. This is why I am so excited to see so many organizations working to help improve accessibility and further disability inclusion in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. In many ways the projects supported by the Enabling Accessibility Fund make a world of difference to persons with disabilities, and helps us move forward together towards a more disability inclusive Canada.”
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

“Building a more inclusive Canada takes a lot of work, but its important work that must be done. Thanks to the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Government of Canada has been able to support organizations in the region of Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Together, we are working hard to make our community more accessible for persons with disabilities. Improving accessibility benefits all Canadians.”
– Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha, Maryam Monsef

• May 30 to June 5, 2021, is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), a time when accessibility and inclusion are promoted across Canada. It is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and recognize all efforts to remove barriers and ensure persons with disabilities participate fully in all aspects of Canadian society.

• The Government of Canada has funded over 4,700 projects, since the establishment of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities’ programs, services and employment opportunities.

• The Small projects component of the EAF funds projects that may enable a child with a visual impairment to participate in community activities, or make it possible for a person who uses a wheelchair to access his or her place of work.

• Two new EAF calls for proposals will be launched on Friday, June 4.

  • Under the 2021 Mid-sized component, organizations will be able to submit project proposals for funding from $350,000 up to $1 million. The call for proposals will remain open until July 29, 2021.
  • Under the 2021 Youth Innovation component, expressions of interest from youth will be accepted until October 29, 2021. The deadline for organizations working with youth to submit their proposals will be November 30, 2021.

• Budget 2021 committed additional funding of $100 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to triple funding for the EAF and support small and mid-sized projects with not-for-profit organizations, women’s shelters, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, territorial governments, and businesses of all sizes. An additional $29.2 million was committed over two years to help children with disabilities by supporting child care centres to make the physical upgrades to improve the accessibility of their facilities.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Enabling Accessibility Fund

Associated links

• Enabling Accessibly Fund
• Hiring persons with disabilities
• Making an accessible Canada for persons with disabilities

For media enquiries, please contact:

Marielle Hossack
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
marielle.hossack@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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