May 1, 2015– Brockville, Ontario– Employment and Social Development Canada
The Government of Canada is helping Canadians with disabilities gain the skills they need to become entrepreneurs. The announcement was made today by Gordon Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development.
St. Lawrence College is receiving over $111,000 from the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities for its project to help 12 people with disabilities in Brockville overcome barriers to employment.
Project participants will benefit from group workshops and one-on-one training to learn or improve entrepreneurial skills, such as developing business plans and managing finances. They will also receive coaching to help them start their own businesses.
Since 2006, the Opportunities Fund has helped 40,000 people with disabilities across Canada. This is part of the Government of Canada’s overall strategy to equip all Canadians with the skills and training they need to connect with available jobs.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
“Our Government’s top priorities are creating jobs and economic growth. To support Canada’s long-term prosperity, we must ensure that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so. The project announced today will help Canadians with disabilities get the skills needed to start their own businesses and enable the community to benefit from their skills and talents.”
– The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development
“Canadians with disabilities deserve every opportunity to participate in the job market, and that’s why partnerships with organizations like St. Lawrence College are so important. Through this project, people with disabilities in Brockville will gain the skills and experience they need to participate in the workforce and their community.”
– Gordon Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville
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Employment and Social Development Canada
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The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities helps Canadians with disabilities prepare for, obtain and keep employment, or become self-employed, to help them participate fully in the workforce and increase their independence.
Economic Action Plan 2013 announced a $10-million increase in funding for the Opportunities Fund, to $40 million annually, starting in 2015–16. Recently announced reforms will place a greater emphasis on hands-on experience, including work experience for more youth with disabilities, and ensure employers and community organizations are involved in the design and delivery of projects.
To further help Canadians with disabilities in the workforce, the Government has:
- extended the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces; and
- provided funding of $7 million per year for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, some of which will support research related to the labour market participation of people with disabilities.
Other measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them with the skills and training they need include the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups, including people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, newcomers and youth.
