July 16, 2015 St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba Employment and Social Development Canada
Today, the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, joined Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher, to announce funding of over $80,000 through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for five projects in south-eastern Manitoba that will improve access for people with disabilities.
Minister Bergen and Member of Parliament Falk made this announcement at the St. Jean Baptiste Parks & Recreation Association which is receiving $50,000 in EAF funding for its exterior renovation project. The project consists of constructing an exterior ramp that will provide access to the entrance hall and provide an accessible patio that will be integrated into the overall landscape design.
These projects are 5 of 432 new EAF projects across Canada, which represent a total investment of approximately $12.95 million. The 2015 EAF call for proposals for these projects was open March 16 to April 27, 2015. Under this call, organizations could receive up to $50,000 towards an accessibility project as long as 35 percent of the total eligible costs came from non-federal government sources. In keeping with the Government’s focus on helping families, priority was given to projects that enhance access for children with disabilities (e.g. outdoor playgrounds). Projects that increased access for Veterans with disabilities and seniors with disabilities were also included as priorities.
In addition to this announcement, Minister Bergen and Member of Parliament Falk reiterated the Government’s commitment to put money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadian families. This commitment includes having increased the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) from $100 to $160 per month (totalling up to $1,920 per year) for every child under the age of 6 and having introduced a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 per year) for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts are retroactive to January 1, 2015, and are reflected in monthly payments to families since July 2015.
“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 and our Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, we are continuing to support Canadian families and individuals to improve accessibility and create opportunities for all Canadians.”
– The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development
“The Government of Canada is creating opportunities for Canadians with disabilities through Enabling Accessibility Fund support to these organizations in our communities. Thanks to organizations like yours that care about accessibility, we see first-hand how these kinds of projects make a real difference.”
– Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher
“The St. Jean Centennial Hall committee, which is a subcommittee of the St. Jean Baptiste Parks & Rec Inc., is delighted to have received federal funding in order to complete our new entrance, providing full accessibility for all. We greatly appreciate the funding. Thank you to our Member of Parliament for Provencher, Mr. Ted Falk.”
– Lucien Jean, St. Jean Centennial Hall committee member
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The five projects in south-eastern Manitoba being announced today were all from the Enabling Accessibility Fund 2015 call for proposals that was open from March 16 to April 27, 2015.
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) was originally announced in 2007 as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. Economic Action Plan 2013 extended the EAF on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to continue to help improve community and workplace accessibility for Canadians with disabilities.
The community accessibility stream of the EAF provides funding to eligible recipients for capital cost projects that improve accessibility. To be considered eligible for funding, projects have to be directly related to removing barriers and increasing accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities. All projects must also respond to specific eligibility criteria identified in the call for proposals, including support from the community.
For this call for proposals, which closed on April 27, 2015, priority was given to projects that enhance access for children with disabilities (e.g. outdoor playgrounds), Veterans with disabilities or seniors with disabilities.
For further information on the EAF, please visit http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/eaf/.
