Today, Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, announced that Hospice Vaughan in the City of Vaughan has received $50,000 of financial support through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) to fund the construction of an essential elevator at the Centre of Excellence Residential Hospice, ultimately improving accessibility for Canadians with disabilities.
Canadians with disabilities face daily challenges that prevent them from participating fully in all aspects of our society. Through programs such as the EAF, the Government of Canada is committed to reducing these barriers and ensuring that everyone has equal access and equal opportunity. Hospice Vaughan’s new Centre of Excellence will include a 10-bed residential hospice, support for patients and families, as well as provide facilities to conduct research and educate health care professionals on palliative care best practices.
The EAF funds projects that fall under one of two streams: community accessibility or workplace accessibility.
The Workplace Accessibility Stream gives eligible organizations across Canada funding for projects that improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities through renovations, retrofits or construction of workplaces, including the provision of accessible information and communication technologies for work use.
The 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. This includes the provision of information and communication technologies for community use that eliminate systemic accessibility barriers.
Eligible organizations can submit funding applications through an annual EAF call for proposals.
Quotes
“Canada is at its best and all of society benefits when everyone is included. The Enabling Accessibility Fund is one of the measures that exist to ensure persons with disabilities have opportunities to participate on an equal basis. Through this funding and partnerships with organizations like Hospice Vaughan, we are working to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada.”
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
“Today’s announcement is another example of what the Government of Canada is doing to help Canadians of all abilities to fully participate in and contribute to their workplaces and communities. I want to thank all participating organizations for applying for funding that will help to make our communities and workplaces more inclusive for all Canadians.”
– Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge
“Given our commitment to helping individuals live with dignity, comfort and independence, it is essential that we ensure accessibility at our new Residential Hospice for clients, caregivers, family members, volunteers and the community at large. We are grateful to Employment and Social Development Canada for this Community Accessibility Grant for the construction of an elevator at our new Hospice Vaughan facility. We would also like to thank MP Sorbara for his ongoing support to our organization”
– Belinda Marchese, Executive Director, Hospice Vaughan.
Quick Facts
• Since the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 3,000 projects, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities’ programs, services and workplaces.
• The EAF has an annual (grants and contributions (Gs and Cs)) base budget of $13.65 million.
• Budget 2016 provided an additional $4 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, for the EAF’s community stream to support the capital costs of construction and renovation related to improving physical accessibility and safety for Canadians with disabilities. This has increased EAF’s Gs and Cs budget to $15.65M in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
• Starting in 2018-19, EAF’s Gs and Cs budget will grow to $20.65M as Budget 2017 provided $77 million ($70M in Gs and Cs and $7M in operational funding) over ten years, to expand the activities of the EAF and support more small and mid-sized projects, including youth-driven proposals, aimed at improving accessibility in Canadian communities and workplaces.
Associated Links
• Funding: Enabling Accessibility in Workplaces and Communities – 1. Overview
• Hospice Vaughan
Contacts
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
The Office of Francesco Sorbara
905-264-6446
Francesco.sorbara@parl.gc.ca
