Government of Canada announces major funding for projects that promote the social inclusion of persons with disabilities

Strengthening the disability sector's capacity to improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities through integration and participation in society

WINNIPEG, April 5, 2019 /CNW/ - Accessibility in Canada is about creating communities, workplaces and services that enable everyone to participate fully in a society without barriers.

Today, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, announced financial support for 28 organizations across Canada through the Social Development Partnerships Program–Disability Component (SDPP-D) for a total amount of $18 million over three years.

The Social Development Partnerships Program helps children and families, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable Canadians improve their lives. The Disability Component of this program funds projects that promote the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Through the SDPP-D open call for proposals, national organizations with a primary mandate that promotes the social inclusion of persons with disabilities could apply for operating funding. This supports the disability sector to strengthen its capacity, which will play a pivotal role in the implementation of Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, and the full inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Today's announcement took place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg with People First of Canada, one of the organizations to receive SDPP-D support this year. With $1.5 million in SDPP-D funding over three years, People First of Canada will continue to support people with intellectual disabilities striving to participate more fully in all aspects of Canadian society.   

Bill C-81, the proposed Accessible Canada Act, currently making its way through the Senate, is another concrete step that the Government of Canada is taking to break down barriers to accessibility. This proposed piece of legislation is meant to promote broad organizational and cultural change across Canada, while proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers to the realization of a truly accessible Canada.

Quotes

"Investing in the SDPP-D means investing in the success and inclusion of persons with disabilities across Canada. Our government heard the disability community loud and clear on the need for predictable and stable funding. Today's multi‑million dollar announcement demonstrates our commitment to the community and to national organizations that now have the chance to expand their reach in improving the participation and integration of persons with disabilities in Canadian society, while also tackling everyday barriers to inclusion and access."

– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

"People First of Canada is thrilled with the continued support and commitment of the SDPP-D funding for the next three years. This funding allows us to move forward with the work we are doing to remove barriers, raise awareness and advance the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities across Canada." 

– Kory Earle, President, People First of Canada

Quick Facts

• Since its start in 1998, the SDPP-D has provided $11 million annually in grant and contribution funding to organizations to support projects intended to improve the participation and integration of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. Since 2002–03, 516 projects have received funding.
• More national disability organizations will receive funding this year than in the 20-year history of the SDPP-D. The Government of Canada is supporting over one-third more organizations to increase their capacity to serve persons with disabilities.
• Through Budget 2018, new funding was announced for the SDPP-D to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the development of planned accessibility legislation for the Government of Canada:
• $2.6 million over two years (2019–21) to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• $6.13 million over three years (2019–22) to support accessibility; and
• $2.7 million per year ongoing, effective 2021–22, to support accessibility.
• The Government of Canada will provide financial support for the following 28 organizations through the Social Development Partnerships Program–Disability Component: Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD); Autism Society Canada; Autism Speaks Canada; Brain Injury Association of Canada; British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS); Canadian Association of Community Living (CACL); Canadian Association of the Deaf; Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance; Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW); Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf; Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA); Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA); Canadian Injured Workers Alliance (CIWA); Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta; DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN); Independent Living Canada; Iris the Dragon; L'Arche Canada; National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS); Neil Squire Society; People First of Canada; Plan Institute for Citizenship and Disability; Realize; Spinal Cord Injury Canada; Tetra Society of North America; The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE); Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute; and an organization to be named upon finalization of agreement.

Backgrounder:

The Government of Canada wants to make sure persons with disabilities are included

The Government of Canada supports persons with disabilities who live, work and participate in all kinds of activities in Canada. One of the ways it does that is by giving money to community centres and other organizations to keep them operating, and help them run projects that break down barriers faced by persons with disabilities. The barriers can be physical, like stairs, or they can be hidden barriers, like the way some people think about disabilities and persons with disabilities.

This year, the Government is giving financial support to 28 organizations across the country, for a total amount of $18 million over three years. Among these organizations is People First of Canada, a national organization representing persons with intellectual disabilities. The organization will receive $1.5 million to help cover its operating costs over the next three years.

The money comes from the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program–Disability component (SDPP-D). The SDPP-D is a program designed specifically to give financial support to organizations that work to make sure persons with disabilities are included in society.

Associated Links

Making an accessible Canada for people with disabilities 
Social Development and Partnerships Program - Disability

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Ashley Michnowski, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter

Related Links

www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca