June 20, 2014 – Portage la Prairie, Manitoba – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects was launched today by the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), at the Portage Ukrainian Nursery School in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
The Government is encouraging organizations to submit proposals for projects that will help improve accessibility in community facilities for Canadians with disabilities. Eligible organizations in all provinces and territories can submit proposals until Friday, August 1, 2014.
While visiting the Portage Ukrainian Nursery School, Minister Bergen toured the facility to see first-hand the improvements that were made as a result of a previous $50,000 EAF grant to the school. The upgrades included installing an exterior ramp, an elevator, automatic doors in the washrooms and lower sinks with automatic taps.
Lauren Brent
Office of the Minister
613-415-5625
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
The Harper government announced the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007 as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. In 2010, the EAF was extended by an additional three-year, $45-million commitment and a new mid-sized project component was created. Since the first call for proposals in 2008, over 1,400 projects to improve accessibility in Canadian communities have received funding. Over $8 million in funding is available through this year’s call for proposals, held under the EAF Community Accessibility Stream.
Through Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government extended the EAF on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to continue to help improve accessibility for Canadians with disabilities in their communities and in their workplaces.
The workplace accessibility stream of the EAF provides funding to eligible recipients for capital cost projects that improve accessibility in workplaces across Canada. To be considered elible for funding, projects must be directly related to maintaining or creating job opportunities for people with disabilities.
There will be an opportunity for small businesses to apply for funding through a call for proposals under the Workplace Accessibility Stream, which is expected to launch in the coming months. For more information about the EAF Workplace Accessibility Stream, visit www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/eaf/workplace.shtml.
For further information on how to submit proposals under the current call for community-based projects, visit: www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/eaf/.
