EAR FALLS, ONTARIO, OCTOBER 26, 2010-Residents of Ear Falls and Red Lake will have greater access to literacy and basic skills training through the Government of Canada's support for a renovation project that will improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
Mr. Greg Rickford, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Kenora, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today congratulated the Red Lake District Adult Learning Centre on the successful completion of its accessibility improvements, funded through the Enabling Accessibility Fund.
"Our government supports Canadians with disabilities and their families. Through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, we are improving access to facilities, activities and services," said Mr. Rickford. "It is through partnerships with organizations like the Red Lake District Adult Learning Centre that we are making this possible."
The Enabling Accessibility Fund was originally announced in 2007 as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. Since the first call for proposals in 2008, over 300 organizations have been awarded funding to improve accessibility in their communities. Budget 2010 builds on the success of this program by providing an additional $45 million over three years to remove barriers for Canadians with disabilities.
-30-
This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Budget 2010 includes several measures to help people with disabilities and their families:
- Recognizing that families of children with disabilities may not be able to contribute regularly to their Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Government introduced a 10-year carry forward of the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond entitlements.
- To provide parents with more flexibility in ensuring that their savings may be used tosupport a child with a disability when they are no longer able to support his or her needs, the Government will allow a deceased taxpayer's Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Registered Retirement Income Fund proceeds to be transferred, on a tax-free basis, to the Registered Disability Savings Plan of a financially dependent child or grandchild with a disability.
- In order to build on the successes of our Paralympians and continue to encourage people with disabilities to actively participate in sport, the Government is providing $5 million a year over a period of two years to the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Canada's Economic Action Plan and other recent federal initiatives are also addressing the needs of people with disabilities and their families through a series of important measures, including the following:
- allocating $1 billion for renovations and energy retrofits to social housing, including renovations that support people with disabilities;
- allocating an additional $75 million over twoyears for the construction of new social housing units for people with disabilities;
- allocating $40 million over two years to improve the accessibility of federally owned buildings;
- doubling the tax relief provided by the Working Income Tax Benefit, which includes a supplement for people with disabilities;
- extending the increase in the Home Buyers' Plan limit and the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit to people with disabilities who are not first-time home buyers but are buying a more accessible or functional home; and
- allocating $32 million for the operation of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
