SACKVILLE, NB, July 21, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, announced an investment through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for a project in Sackville that will improve access for people with disabilities. Minister Poilievre made the announcement at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26, which is receiving $12,775 through the EAF to improve accessibility by constructing a barrier-free washroom.
This project is one of 432 new EAF projects across Canada, which represent a total investment of nearly $13 million. Through the EAF, organizations could receive up to $50,000 towards an accessibility project provided that 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 children, Veterans and seniors with disabilities were also included as priorities.
Today's announcement is one example of what the Harper Government is doing to create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. To support hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and improving the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit.
Quick Facts
- The EAF commits $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada.
- Since the creation of the EAF in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 2,200 projects, helping thousands of Canadians get better access to their communities' facilities, programs and services.
- 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.
- So far, Canadians have opened over 100,000 Registered Disability Savings Plans and have benefitted from over $1 billion in bonds and grants deposited by the federal government.
- Representing an investment of $222 million per year in the provinces and territories, Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities are the single largest federal government investment in helping Canadians with disabilities get jobs.
- The Government is also increasing the UCCB, providing direct benefits to 100 percent of families with children under the age of 18, including those who have children living with disabilities.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is creating opportunities for Canadians with disabilities through the Enabling Accessibility Fund with support to projects like the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 and the Town of Sackville. Thanks to organizations like yours that care about accessibility, we see first-hand how these kind of projects make a real difference in our communities."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development
"The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 in Sackville is pleased to receive this grant from the Government of Canada through the Enabling Accessibility Fund. It will play an important part in our continuing efforts to make our building accessible to Veterans, seniors and all members of the public."
– Doreen Richards, President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26
Associated Links
- Funding: Enabling Accessibility
- Economic Action Plan
- Canada.ca/taxsavings
- Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper
Backgrounder
Enabling Accessibility Fund
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 the capital cost of 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/.
SOURCE Canada's Economic Action Plan
Aaron Bell, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development, 613-220-3230, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]; Follow us on Twitter
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