News release
Launches Enabling Accessibility Fund call for proposals
May 31, 2018 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
During Canada’s second annual National AccessAbility Week, we celebrate promoting inclusion and breaking down barriers for Canadians with disabilities.
Today, to help achieve a more accessible Canada, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, visited a school in Ottawa to see first-hand how Government of Canada funding is changing lives by reducing accessibility barriers.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee School received $50,000 through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) to build an inclusive playground structure. The new structure provides a fun and safe place to play and has improved accessibility and inclusion for all students of all abilities.
During her visit, Minister Duncan took the opportunity to invite businesses, community organizations and other eligible recipients to apply for funding for small projects through the 2018 EAF call for proposals.
The EAF provides funding for eligible capital projects that increase accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities and workplaces, creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community activities, programs and services, or to access employment opportunities.
The new EAF call for proposals includes two funding streams:
The Workplace Accessibility Stream gives eligible businesses and other employers across Canada the opportunity to submit funding proposals for projects that improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities through the construction, renovation or retrofit of workplaces and the provision of accessible information and communications technologies so that people with disabilities can access employment opportunities.
The Community Accessibility Stream provides funding for projects that help improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities through the construction, renovation or retrofit of community facilities and venues and the provision of accessible information and communications technologies so that community programs and services can be accessed by people with disabilities.
Not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations with up to 99 full-time equivalent employees, small municipalities (with populations under 125,000), Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities) and territorial governments are eligible to apply for project funding of up to $100,000 under both the workplace and the community accessibility funding streams.
Eligible applicants in all provinces and territories can submit proposals until July 26, 2018.
Quotes
“Creating a safe and inclusive environment where children of all abilities can play without worrying about barriers brings us one step closer to a more accessible Canada. It is great to see a community come together to ensure people with disabilities have opportunities to fully participate in community activities. I want to thank Thomas D’Arcy McGee School for applying to the Enabling Accessibility Fund program and eliminating barriers for people with disabilities in the community.”
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
“All society benefits when everyone is included. We strongly encourage businesses, community organizations and other eligible applicants to apply for support from the Enabling Accessibility Fund, so that we can continue to work together to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada.”
– Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Quick facts
- National AccessAbility Week is celebrated from May 27 to June 2, 2018 to promote accessibility and inclusion in Canadian communities and workplaces.
- Since the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 3,500 EAF projects, helping several thousand Canadians gain access to their communities’ programs, services and employment opportunities.
- Starting in 2018–19, the EAF grants and contributions budget will grow from $13.65 million to $20.65 million, as Budget 2017 provided $77 million ($70 million in grant and contribution annual funding and $7 million in operational funding) over 10 years to expand the activities of the EAF and support more small and mid-sized projects, including youth-driven proposals, aimed at improving accessibility in Canadian communities and workplaces.
- Under the 2017 small projects component, 600 EAF projects were approved for funding, for a total of $15.5 million.
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