Persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in finding and keeping employment and many are unable to participate fully in Canadian society and the economy.
The Government of Canada is working with partners and the disability community to invest in programs and services that will help to increase the accessibility of workplaces and connect persons with disabilities to skills training and good jobs.
Today, as part of National AccessAbility Week 2022, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced a call for proposals (CFP) under the Opportunities Fund (OF) for Persons with Disabilities. Up to $270M is available to fund up to 180 projects over the next three years. The objective is to increase the participation and improve the financial security of persons with disabilities in the workforce, while also helping to address labour market shortages across several sectors throughout Canada.
Minister Qualtrough made the announcement during a visit to the TEAM Work Cooperative with Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West. The Cooperative received $952,910 under the OF in 2018 to assist 116 persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia, including 86 youth, to develop the skills needed to obtain and keep good jobs. The Minister and MP Diab met with several project participants and discussed their past employment challenges and successes.
Today’s announcement supports the Government’s Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities, which is part of its Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Strategy aims to:
- assist individuals to find and keep jobs, and advance in their careers or become entrepreneurs;
- support the efforts of employers to diversify their workforces by creating inclusive and accessible workplaces for employees with disabilities; and,
- increase the supply, capacity and reach of individuals and organizations that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment.
Eligible organizations have until July 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EDT to apply by visiting: https://www.canada.ca
