Released on June 19, 1998
A new five-year, federal-provincial agreement will make it easier for
people with disabilities in Saskatchewan to prepare for, find and keep
jobs.
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada and
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, and Member of
Parliament for Wascana, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre S.
Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, Lorne
Calvert, Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Office of
Disability Issues and Joanne Crofford, Minister of Saskatchewan
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training, today announced the
signing of an agreement to launch the Employability Assistance for
People with Disabilities (EAPD) initiative.
Under the cost-sharing agreement, the Government of Canada will
contribute up to $9.9 million annually to support a range of
provincial programs and services that help people with disabilities
overcome barriers in preparing for, getting and keeping a job. The
agreement, which takes effect immediately, builds on and replaces the
Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP) agreement, first
introduced in 1961. The EAPD was developed to help address the labour
market concerns that were raised by Canadians with disabilities.
"Helping people with disabilities participate more fully in Canadian
society is a priority for all governments," said Minister Goodale.
"This federal-provincial initiative will help ensure that people
with disabilities overcome the employment challenges they face
and enable them to fully contribute to our economy and to
Canadian society."
"As a society we have a responsibility to enable all individuals
to access opportunities equally," said Minister Calvert. "I am
very pleased at the work we have been able to do jointly to
continue reducing barriers to the labour market for individuals
with disabilities."
"Investing in people with disabilities through more flexible
education and training opportunities ensures all citizens get the
skills they need to get a job and participate fully in society,"
said Minister Crofford. "A goal of the Saskatchewan Training
Strategy is to improve access to career information, education
and training programs and career and employment services
throughout our training system. We have taken a significant step
forward with the new EAPD agreement and are working to ensure the
Saskatchewan workforce includes all people."
Important elements of the EAPD include:
a focus on individual need, disability community participation
and flexibility in the development and delivery of programs
and services;
a results-based reporting framework to enhance program
effectiveness and accountability to the public;
programs and service development that make the best use of
available resources to empower people with disabilities an
avoid unnecessary overlap and duplication;
contributions by the Government of Canada of 50 per cent of
the cost of eligible provincial expenses, up to a pre-set
maximum; and
provisions to ensure no more than 15 per cent of funding is
spent on administrative costs.
The Province will be working with individuals with disabilities
and their community partners to identify and develop the range of
supports that help adults prepare for, find and keep jobs.
The Government of Canada has negotiated similar agreements with
other provinces. Each agreement reflects local and regional
labour market priorities and needs as the Canada-Saskatchewan
EAPD agreement does.
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Attached backgrounder:
Highlights of the Employability Assistance for People with
Disabilities Agreement
This news release and backgrounder are available in alternate
formats upon request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch tone phone
or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
For more information, contact:
Government of Canada
Andy Veresh
Human Resources Development
Canada
Phone: (306)780-7718
BACKGROUNDER
Highlights of the Employability Assistance for People with
Disabilities (EAPD) Agreement
One of the greatest challenges facing Canadians with disabilities
is unemployment. Getting and keeping a job is key to
participating in and contributing to society as a citizen with
equal rights. While many people with disabilities are prepared
and ready to work, they often face barriers to employment that
other Canadians do not encounter.
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with provincial and
territorial governments, is committed to helping people with
disabilities participate fully in society by reducing the
barriers to employment they face.
In 1997, the Government of Canada and the Governments of all
Provinces and Territories, through the Social Services Council,
embarked on a multilateral process to review programming
currently in place to assist people with disabilities integrate
into the labour market.
At the October 1997 meeting of Ministers Responsible for Social
Services, the Government of Canada and the Provinces and
Territories agreed to reform the 37-year-old Vocational
Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Program (VRDP) by endorsing
the more progressive and innovative Employability Assistance for
People with Disabilities (EAPD) initiative. The EAPD was
subsequently endorsed by First Ministers at their December 1997
meeting.
Key Elements of the Employability Assistance for People with
Disabilities Initiative
a strong focus on helping people with disabilities prepare
for, find, and maintain employment;
a new accountability process that focuses on pragmatic
outcomes;
the Government of Canada will contribute 50 per cent of the
cost of eligible provincial/territorial expenses to a pre-set maximum;
provisions to ensure that funds are spent directly on
assisting people with disabilities to prepare for
employment, including a limit of 15 per cent of funding for
administrative costs;
provision for a three-year transition period to allow
provinces and territories to adjust to the changes; and
co-operative planning between the Provinces/Territories and
the Government of Canada to eliminate overlap and
duplication and allow better sharing of information on what
works.
The Government of Canada has negotiated similar arrangements with
other provinces. Each bilateral agreement incorporates the
common principles and objectives of the EAPD, but reflects the
unique circumstances of the individual jurisdiction.
Under the terms of the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities, the
Government of Canada will contribute up to $9.9 million annually
to help people with disabilities acquire the skills, work
experience and related support measures they need to participate
in the labour market.
Today's announcement acts on a commitment made by the Government
of Canada to continue to work with the Provinces and Territories
to ensure people with disabilities are more readily integrated
into the economic and social mainstream of Canadian society.
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Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Social Services
Virginia Wilkinson
Phone: (306)787-0916
Saskatchewan Post-Secondary
Education and Skills Training
Jim Seiferling
Phone: (306)787-0477
