Gatineau – Every Canadian deserves to fully participate in all aspects of society and to contribute to our communities and the economy. For this reason, the Government of Canada continues to support organizations across the country, who are investing to make spaces, communities, workplaces, services and systems more accessible and improving the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Today, as part of National AccessAbility Week 2023, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced $70.8 million in funding to support 903 accessibility projects led by organizations across Canada. Organizations were selected as a result of a Call for Proposals, launched in 2022, under the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) small projects component.
This announcement took place at Mouvement d’entraide communautaire à l’emploi, based in Gatineau, Quebec. The organization is receiving $100,000 through the EAF small projects component to retrofit 12 accessible doors in a building soon to be partially converted into 10 fully accessible housing units for persons with disabilities. The organization’s partners, Exdeltra and Entre Deux Roues, also received $100,000 each in funding under the EAF small projects component for this joint initiative. Once finalized, the initiative will help persons with disabilities stay within their community, increase their ability to participate, and thereby help promote a wider social inclusion.
The small projects component of the EAF mostly supports construction, renovation and retrofit projects that increase accessibility, inclusion and safety in communities and workplaces. Under the fund, eligible projects can receive a grant of up to $100,000 each. This funding contributes to the Government of Canada’s on-going commitment toward its Disability Inclusion Action Plan, by promoting the creation of a fully inclusive Canada, free of physical, societal, and attitudinal barriers.
“Making sure persons with disabilities are able to participate in all aspects of their communities is a critical component of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan. By helping organizations across Canada make their buildings more accessible through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, we’re removing barriers to participation that often go overlooked.” – Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough