In Canada, everyone deserves equal opportunities to fully participate in society. Many persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to inclusion, and these barriers have only been exacerbated by COVID-19. The Government of Canada recognizes the disproportionate impact this pandemic has had on persons with disabilities and continues to build on its efforts to create a more inclusive country for all.

“I believe in building a barrier-free, accessible and disability inclusive Canada for all. For too long, persons with disabilities have faced barriers to participation in day-to-day life, and these barriers have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. We are taking action today by funding projects that will give Canadians with disabilities a more equal opportunity to participate in their community and access important services. We will continue working with the disability community to build a more inclusive, barrier-free Canada for all.”

–Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

• Since creating the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Government of Canada has supported over 4,200 accessibility projects across the country, improving accessibility in communities and workplaces for persons with disabilities and all Canadians.
• Close to $17M has been earmarked in 2020-21 to support the Small Projects component ($16M) and Youth Innovation component ($1M) of the Enabling Accessibility Fund. 

• This call for proposals is the first funding call launched since recent improvements were made to the program to better respond to the needs of organizations. Improvements include: 

  • making the application process easier, 
  • receiving funding decisions more rapidly, and
  • providing additional guidance on the accessibility standards required for the projects.

• In response to COVID-19, organizations were also granted more time to complete their projects.

• The Government has also put in place a number of measures to support persons with disabilities during the COVID 19 pandemic, including:

  • a comprehensive support of nearly $9 billion for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit which provided $1,250 per month in financial relief to post-secondary students, and recent post-secondary and high school graduates, with an additional $750 for students with disabilities; 
  • a one-time payment of up to $600 to persons with disabilities, to help with additional expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic that was provided close to 1.6 million Canadians with disabilities on October 30th, 2020;
  • an investment of $350 million to charities and not-for-profit organizations to deliver essential services;
  • a one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized Sales Tax credit for low- and modest-income Canadians, including persons with disabilities, and
  • guidance issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada on COVID-19 and Persons with Disabilities as well as the Public Health Ethics Framework (both of which included significant contributions from the Advisory Group).

• In the Speech from the Throne delivered on September 23, 2020, the Government committed to bringing forward a new disability inclusion plan that includes a new Canadian Disability Benefit, a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities that emphasizes the economic benefits of disability inclusion, and a focus on training, employment supports and the removal of barriers.

Related products

• Backgrounder : Organizations receiving funding in 2020-2021 under the Enabling Accessibility Fund Small Projects Component

Associated links

• Enabling Accessibly Fund
• Hiring persons with disabilities
• Making an accessible Canada for persons with disabilities

For media enquiries, please contact:
Marielle Hossack
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
marielle.hossack@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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