Government of Canada helps people with disabilities in the Selkirk and Steinbach areas gain job skills

SELKIRK, MB, April 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada will help people with disabilities in the Selkirk and Steinbach areas develop the skills they need to find jobs, announced James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"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," said Mr. Bezan.  "People with disabilities face particular challenges entering the job market and that's why partnerships with organizations like A.I.M. for Work and North Red Community Futures Development Corporation are so important."

A.I.M. for Work, through the North Red Community Futures Development Corporation, is receiving more than $39,000 from the federal Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities to help people with disabilities overcome barriers to employment.

Participants will create personal development plans and attend workshops to develop the life and work skills required to enter the job market. Workshop topics will include teamwork, budgeting, basic computer knowledge and job search techniques.

"We're very pleased with the Government of Canada's funding contribution," said Rob McDonald, Manager, A.I.M for Work. "This funding will assist us to continue our work to help people with disabilities connect with employers in the Selkirk and Steinbach areas."

Canadians with disabilities have a tremendous amount to offer employers but they remain under-represented in the workforce. That is why the Government of Canada, through Economic Action Plan 2012, invested an additional $30 million in the Opportunities Fund to help more people with disabilities gain the hands-on experience they need to find jobs.

Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2013 proposes to maintain ongoing funding at $40 million per year for the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, starting in 2015-16. The program will provide more training to people with disabilities for in-demand jobs. Employers and community organizations will be involved in project design and delivery. EAP 2013 also introduces other measures to support people with disabilities, including a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, extending funding to the Enabling Accessibility Fund to improve physical accessibility and research on the labour market participation of people with disabilities.

Economic Action Plan 2012 announced the creation of a Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Panel identified private sector successes and best practices in employing, retaining and accommodating Canadians with disabilities in the workforce, and better connecting these workers with potential employers. Based on the Panel's recommendations, Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes to provide a $2 million investment to support the creation of the Canadian Employers Disability Forum to facilitate education, training and the sharing of resources and best practices on the hiring and retention of people with disabilities.

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The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities assists people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment or become self-employed.

For more information, or to propose a project, visit servicecanada.gc.ca.

Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes new measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them with the skills and training they need. These 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.

In addition, Economic Action Plan 2013 will also support the following measures:

• An introduction of a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities with an investment of $222 million per year to better meet the employment needs of Canadian businesses and improve the employment prospects for people with disabilities.
• Extending the Enabling Accessibility Fund at a level of $15 million per year to support the capital costs of construction and renovations to improve physical accessibility for people with disabilities, including workplace accommodation.
• Additional 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.

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Jan O'Driscoll
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.