Vancouver, British Columbia, November 22, 2013—Wai Young, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), today announced that children and youth living with disabilities in Vancouver South will benefit from new and concrete Government of Canada measures to fully and actively participate in their communities.
“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting innovative solutions to ensure the full participation of Canadians with disabilities,” said Minister Bergen. “I am proud our government is contributing to an initiative that will have a positive influence in the lives of children and youth with disabilities.”
“Since 2006, through concrete and effective measures, I am proud to say that our government has helped thousands of youth with disabilities,” said Ms. Young. “Through our partnership with the BC Centre for Ability, we are supporting the full participation of people with disabilities in our society.”
Through the Disability Component of the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP‑D), the Government supports a wide range of projects designed to improve social inclusion and address barriers faced by people with disabilities.
The BC Centre for Ability is receiving more than $600,000 from the SDPP-D to develop a resource centre with a range of tools, including information pamphlets, training resources and a new website. The Centre will bring together a network of caregivers, childhood educators and community service providers and provide the tools and training they need to help children and youth develop the skills and training they need for better and brighter futures.
“Social and emotional skills have been identified as key predictors of academic and social success,” said Angela Kwok, Executive Director, BC Centre for Ability Association. “The resource centre project will enable us to utilize a proactive integrated approach to enhance families and community capacity to support the social emotional health of children and youth with disabilities, enabling them to live active and fulfilling lives.”
Economic Action Plan 2013 strengthens federal programs for Canadians with disabilities to help them get the skills and training they need to prepare for and find work. Beginning in 2015–16, more Canadians with disabilities will receive training for in-demand jobs through ongoing support from the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. In addition, the Government is extending the Enabling Accessibility Fund annually to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
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For further information (media only):
Andrew McGrath
A/Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Social Development)
819-953-2351
andrew.mcgrath@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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The Social Development Partnerships Program–Disability Component provides grant and contribution funding to projects and organizations designed to increase the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society.
Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2013 proposes to strengthen federal programming for Canadians with disabilities and help them get the skills and training they need to prepare for and find work. Through EAP 2013, the Government is extending and reforming Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities and the Opportunities Fund to better align them to the skills employers need. The Government is also extending the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to continue to help improve accessibility for Canadians with disabilities.
In addition, the Government invests annually to help address the needs of Canadians with disabilities through such programs as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, Canada Pension Plan Disability, and post-secondary education assistance measures for students with disabilities.
