Government of Canada invests more than $7.2 million to support the full inclusion of Canadians with disabilities

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA—Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, announced $7,224,608 in funding to help Canadians with disabilities become full participants in learning, work and community life. The funding announcement was made today.

"The Government of Canada is committed to promoting the full and active participation of all Canadians in the social and economic life of our country," said Minister Dryden. "Working with our partners, we intend to reach our goal of full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Canadian society."

The Government of Canada is investing in the organizations through the Social Development Partnerships Program — Disability component (SDPP-D), which includes the Community Inclusion Initiative.

The SDPP-D is an $11 million grant and contribution program that supports the capacity of the voluntary sector, informs the policy and program development process, and advances the full participation of persons with disabilities in Canada. Of this $11 million, $3 million supports projects under the Community Inclusion Initiative that help people with intellectual disabilities to be included in community life.

"Canada is stronger when everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute," said Minister Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South. "The funding announced today will help Canadians with disabilities to participate in all aspects of Canadian life."

The following national disability organizations are receiving multi-year organizational grant funding through the SDPP-D: People First of Canada, the Canadian Association for Community Living, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and the Neil Squire Society. See the attached backgrounder for more details.

Organizations receiving funding under the Community Inclusion Initiative part of the SDPP-D are: People First of Canada, the Canadian Association for Community Living and the Associations for Community Living across Canada — Yukon, Yellowknife (NWT), British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. See the attached backgrounder for more details.

This funding was provided for in the 2005 federal budget.

These projects have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions programs.

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This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a Touch Tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Minister Dryden's Office
(613) 941-0766

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

Web site: http://www.sdc.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability (SDPP-D)

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a grants and contributions program that provides financial support to organizations working in the social non-profit sector.

The SDPP addresses the social development and inclusion needs of people with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.

The program has a mandate to help strengthen organizations in the non-profit sector and to foster partnerships that advance social goals and enhance the quality of life of Canadians. Its disability component (SDPP-D) seeks to advance the Government of Canada's disability agenda by promoting the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in learning, work, and community life. The SDPP-D supports research that promotes awareness of issues that relate to persons with disabilities and their families. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions and best practices.

FUNDING

The SDPP-D provides $11 million in funding per year.

Grants

$5 million is provided for base organizational funding to 18 national disability organizations. The purpose of organizational funding is to promote the representative voice of people with disabilities as full and equal citizens in Canadian society. These national organizations must be consumer-controlled or consumer-focused.

Contributions

$3 million is provided to support 40–75 projects of one to three years' duration (more than 500 projects across the country have received funding in the program's seven-year history).

Community Inclusion Initiative

$3 million per year is provided in base funding to two national organizations, the Canadian Association for Community Living and People First of Canada, to promote the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in community life.

Through Community Inclusion projects, local communities develop their own strategies and promote local approaches to eliminate barriers faced by Canadians with intellectual disabilities and their families. Projects involve partnerships and cooperation among different levels of government and organizations including persons with disabilities and Associations for Community Living.

SDPP-D — Multi-year organizational grant funding

People First of Canada: $695,469, April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2008

People First of Canada is a federation of provincial and territorial People First associations, dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion for all persons who have been labeled as having an intellectual disability. It is an incorporated not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, whose members have been identified as persons with intellectual disabilities.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities: $3,057,000, April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2008

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is a national advocacy association of persons with disabilities. The Council advocates at the national level to improve the status of women and men living with disabilities in Canada by eliminating inequality and discrimination.

Canadian Association for Community Living: $300,000, April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2008

The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) is a Canada-wide association of family members and others working for the inclusion into the mainstream of society of persons of all ages with an intellectual disability. The Association works strategically with other disability rights organizations across Canada.

The Neil Squire Society: $210,000, April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2008

The Neil Squire Society creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities through research and development and the delivery of appropriate innovative services and technology to meet their needs. The Society works to remove obstacles and barriers for persons with disabilities so that they can live independent lives and become active members of society.

SDPP-D — Community Inclusion Initiative projects

People First of Canada: $262,114

Framing our Future — A Future of Inclusion, Phase II of the Community Inclusion Initiative, April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2006

The "Framing our Future" project aims to advance the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through continued participation in the national Community Inclusion Initiative. People First of Canada will play a lead role in the design and implementation of the future Community Inclusion Initiative and will develop partnerships with other national community organizations.

The Canadian Association for Community Living: $672,886, Transforming Communities 2005 — National Issues, Support and Coordination
April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2006

The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) is the force behind the Community Inclusion Initiative (CII) and provides coordination and support to projects across Canada. This project will capture key learning based on the experiences and stories of people involved in CII and in the community development process. It will look at how Community Inclusion can focus more fully on enabling innovation in communities, lay the groundwork for this shift in focus and enable CACL to continue in its role of national coordinator for CII projects.

Associations for Community Living across Canada