Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities

NEW

On December 5, 2003, Ministers Responsible for Social Services^[1] approved the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, which replaces the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD)^[2] initiative.  Ministers also approved the companion Framework for Demonstration or Bilateral Evaluations,  which will be used to guide joint evaluation undertakings, as well as jurisdictional evaluations where appropriate.

The Multilateral Framework reaffirms the commitment of governments to work towards ensuring that people with disabilities can participate successfully in the labour market.

The goal of the Multilateral Framework is to improve the employment situation of Canadians with disabilities, by enhancing their employability, increasing the employment opportunities available to them, and building on the existing knowledge base. 

The common principles, objectives and priority areas for action outlined in the Multilateral Framework should encourage greater coherence in the array of programming offered to support the participation of people with disabilities in the labour market.

The Multilateral Framework also marks a step forward in how governments work together to address the issues facing Canadians with disabilities.  The Multilateral Framework provides a new opportunity for governments to work together under more flexible arrangements, allowing them to focus their energies on improving the labour market situation of people with disabilities and on reporting to Canadians on progress made.

Under EAPD in 2002-2003, jurisdictions contributed approximately $477 million to eligible labour market programs for people with disabilities, of which $288 million represented provincial funding.  The February 2003 federal budget renewed the Government of Canada’s funding commitment for EAPD and its successor at $193 million per year.

Although the Multilateral Framework reflects FPT consensus, it was not formally endorsed by Québec and the territories.

The territories have confirmed their support for the principles and direction of the Multilateral Framework.  They will continue to provide labour market programs for people with disabilities, and will participate in the Multilateral Framework in the future if outstanding fiscal arrangement issues are resolved.  This situation does not represent a change for the territories, which did not participate in EAPD.

Québec subscribes to the general principles of the Multilateral Framework, and has signaled its intention to continue to work with the federal government in providing labour market programs for people with disabilities in Québec, while respecting jurisdictional roles and responsibilities.

Bilateral agreements under the Multilateral Framework should be finalized by April 1, 2004.

[1]  Ministers Responsible for Social Services comprise the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal, established in 1996 to guide the social union initiative.  Read more about how Canada works with the Provinces and Territories under the Government of Canada Disability Agenda.

[2] Read a partial evaluation of EAPD:   Promising Practices in Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Funded Programs and Services (August 2002)