Application Information for Individuals

The objective of the Opportunities Fund is to assist persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain employment or self-employment as well as to develop the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.

The Opportunities Fund supports a number of employment activities to help persons with disabilities overcome barriers to employment.

Activities can include:

• helping individuals start their own business;

• assisting individuals to increase their employment skill level;

• assisting individuals to integrate into the workplace through services tailored to meet their special needs.

 

Financial Parameters

Contributions may be made to eligible participants to cover the following costs incurred in relation to their participation in an eligible activity. These are:

• all or a portion of their living expenses;

• all or a portion of the incremental cost of participation such as expenses relating to specialized services, arrangements or equipment, dependant care, transportation and accommodation; and

• all or part of the cost of tuition for a course or a program of instruction (May not be available in all Provinces).

 

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for assistance from the Opportunities Fund, an individual must self identify as having a permanent physical or mental disability which limits their daily activity and:

• must be unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week and be seeking employment

• must be eligible to work in Canada; and

• must require assistance to work or to become self-employed

Participants must normally not be eligible for assistance under the Employment Programs under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act or similar provincial or territorial programs that are subject to agreements with provinces, territories or organizations funded through Section 63 of the Employment Insurance Act.

 

How do I apply?

If you wish to apply for the Opportunities Fund, please contact the Service Canada Centre (SCC) nearest you.

In Quebec, individuals who would like to request assistance within the framework of our individual measures should contact Sphere-Quebec .

 

Agreements with Third Parties

HRSDC can enter into a contribution agreement with organizations who in turn can enter into its own agreements that resemble those into which HRSDC would otherwise enter with employers, sponsors, and/or individual clients.

 

Training / Labour Market Development Agreements

The Government of Canada has signed bilateral Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDA) with all jurisdictions except Ontario, with most agreements in place since 1997-98. Since that time, in many provinces and territories, training is the responsibility of provincial/territorial governments and concurrence must be obtained from the appropriate provincial/territorial ministry for HRSDC to deliver training through OF.

It is recommended that individuals check with their local SCC office(s) to determine how skills development is funded in their province.

Other services are also available through a number of National Projects throughout the country and in other Human Resources and Social Development Canada programs.