GATINEAU, QC, May 31, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, today invited businesses and community organizations to apply for funding through the 2016 Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) call for proposals. This call includes a Workplace Accessibility and a Community Accessibility funding stream. Minister Qualtrough also highlighted the increase in funding of $4 million to the EAF through Budget 2016.
Canadians with disabilities face challenges every day which prohibit them from participating fully in their community and workplace. The Government of Canada is committed to reducing these accessibility barriers and ensuring that everyone has equal access and opportunity through programs such as the EAF.
The EAF 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 renovations, retrofits or construction of workplaces. Businesses with up to 99 full‑time equivalent employees and community organizations can receive government grant project funding of up to $50,000.
The EAF Community Accessibility Stream provides funding for projects that help improve accessibility and safety through renovations, retrofits or construction of community facilities and venues so that programs and services can be accessed by people with disabilities.
Eligible applicants in all provinces and territories can submit proposals until Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
Quick Facts
- The Enabling Accessibility Fund has an annual budget of $15 million.
- Since the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Government of Canada has funded over 2,300 projects, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities' programs, services and workplaces.
- Budget 2016 is committed to providing an additional $4 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, for the Enabling Accessibility Fund's community stream to support the capital costs of construction and renovation related to improving physical accessibility and safety for Canadians with disabilities.
Quote
"The Enabling Accessibility fund plays an important role in making sure that all Canadians, regardless of their abilities, feel welcome in their workplaces and communities. That is why I strongly encourage business and community organizations to apply for Enabling Accessibility Fund funding. I believe everyone deserves opportunities to participate on an equal basis."
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Associated Links
- Enabling Accessibility Fund – Workplace Accessibility Stream
- Enabling Accessibility Fund – Community Accessibility Stream
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Backgrounder
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The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) was originally announced as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. It was then renewed for another three years prior to being renewed on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to continue to improve accessibility for Canadians with disabilities. Since its creation, the EAF has funded over 2,300 projects.
Projects funded under the Workplace Accessibility Stream, the newer of the funding streams, must improve accessibility or safety in workplaces in order to create or maintain job opportunities for Canadians with disabilities. Eligible activities for this workplace stream must be linked to addressing accessibility and/or safety issues in a workplace. Eligible activities are limited to construction, renovation and retrofit projects, including the provision of accessible information and communication technologies, aimed at eliminating barriers to the access of a workplace, or reducing safety concerns of persons with disabilities in their workplace environment.
To be considered eligible for Community Accessibility Stream funding, projects must be directly related to removing barriers and increasing accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities thus allowing access to programs and services.
Eligible activities for the Community Accessibility Stream include renovation, retrofit or construction activities specifically designed to eliminate obstacles for people with disabilities and ensure increased accessibility to facilities where programs or services are or will be offered to persons with disabilities. This includes the provision of information and communication technologies that eliminate systemic accessibility barriers.
The EAF offers up to $50,000 in funding. Project costs will be shared between the recipient and government. Contributions equal to or greater than 35 percent of the total eligible costs of the project must be provided by sources other than the federal government (which can include the applicant's own organization). Both funding streams for this call for proposals close on July 26, 2016.
For more information about how to submit proposals, please visit: Canada.ca/accessibility-fund
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
Contacts: Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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