Harper Government improves accessibility for Canadians with disabilities in Miramichi

News Release

June 12, 2015 Miramichi, New Brunswick Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Tilly O’Neill Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, today announced over $92,000 in funding to improve accessibility at two buildings in Miramichi.

With funding of $47,000, The Point Church undertook renovations to four washrooms. Mount Saint Joseph Foundation Inc. received over $45,000 to build an accessible work station and dining tables at Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home.

The funding is provided through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, which supports the inclusion and participation of Canadians with all abilities in every aspect of society.

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.

Quick facts

Since the launch of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 1,800 projects, helping thousands of Canadians gain better access to their communities’ facilities, programs and services.
In 2013, the Government of Canada extended the EAF on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces.
In recent years, the Government of Canada has taken concrete action to support programs for people with disabilities:

The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities has helped 40,000 people with disabilities across Canada to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment or self-employment.
As of March 2015, Canadians have registered over 100,000 Registered Disability Savings Plans and have benefitted from over $1 billion in bonds and grants deposited by the federal government.
The Government provides $222 million annually to the provinces and territories through Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities to help Canadians with disabilities develop skills to improve their job prospects.
Through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government is providing $15 million over three years to the Canadian Association for Community Living to help connect people with developmental disabilities with jobs. It is also providing $11.4 million over four years to the Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada to expand vocational training programs for people with autism spectrum disorders. .

The Universal Child Care Benefit would increase from $100 to $160 per month (totalling up to $1,920 per year) for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 per year) for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quotes

“Our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians of all abilities have the chance to contribute to our communities and be included in all aspects of society. Through our investments in the Enabling Accessibility Fund, more than 1,800 projects across the country are improving accessibility so that all Canadians can participate in their communities and workplaces.”

– The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development

“People with varying abilities have the right to participate in all aspects of society. Thanks to the efforts of organizations like The Point Church and Mount Saint Joseph Foundation, we’re eliminating barriers and we’re helping to bring workers, employers and communities together.”

– The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

“This funding will make a positive difference for members of The Point Church and for the residents of Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home. It will help increase opportunities for participation for people who previously faced physical barriers.”

– Tilly O’Neill Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi

“The Enabling Accessibility Fund has allowed people with disabilities from the community and surrounding area to be able to not only enter our facility independently of help from others, but also allows them to move throughout the building and utilize the facilities, creating more opportunity for social development, interaction and activity. We are a proud member of the community and support any effort to increase accessibility for people with disabilities.”

– Terrance Cooke, Trustee Chairman, The Point Church

“The Enabling Accessibility Fund has created a wonderful movement at Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home. It has provided the funds to purchase a wheelchair tandem bike called the DUET, which serves all populations in our nursing home. It has also allowed us to purchase dining tables that are individually multi-level for the residents to dine with three of their friends for all their meals. These funds are truly enhancing the accessibility of residents at Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home.”

– Iris Sullivan, Foundation Operations Administrator, Mount Saint Joseph Foundation Inc.

Associated Links

Media contacts

Emily Hillstrom
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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2016-12-14

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Harper Government improves accessibility for Canadians with disabilities in Miramichi

News Release

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