CHARLESBOURG, QUEBEC, April 18, 2008 - On behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, announced today that the Government of Canada will contribute almost $3.5 million in funding to SPHERE-Québec (Soutien à la personne handicapée en route vers l'emploi au Québec) under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best-educated, most-skilled, and most flexible work force in the world," said Minister Verner. "Not only will this investment help approximately 530 people in Quebec with disabilities find and keep quality jobs, but it will also benefit local employers facing labour shortages, and it will be good for the local economy."
Under this agreement, the Government of Canada is entrusting SPHERE-Québec with the management of individual measures offered through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. In 2008-2009, the organization will help improve employment opportunities for at least 530 persons with disabilities in Quebec.
"Employment integration is a key factor in social inclusion. The daily activities of SPHERE-Québec involve working with community partners to help integrate individuals with disabilities into employment and eliminate barriers to their labour market participation," said Ms. Nancy Moreau, Director General of SPHERE-Québec.
The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities supports a wide range of employment activities for unemployed persons with disabilities who are not normally eligible for Employment Insurance benefits under the Employment Insurance Act.
With an annual budget of $30 million, the Opportunities Fund helps persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment or self employment, thereby improving their economic status.
The Opportunities Fund works in partnership with organizations, including the private sector, to support an array of effective and innovative activities for people with disabilities, such as encouraging employers to hire them, increasing their employment skills, providing them with work experience, and helping them start their own business.
In the last federal budget, the Government of Canada announced new initiatives for people with disabilities, including:
- the Registered Disability Savings Plan;
- the Enabling Accessibility Fund;
- the Working Income Tax Benefit; and
- the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
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