Agreement Helps People with Disabilities

Senator Al Graham, leader of the Government in the Senate, on behalf of Pierre S. Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada and Francene Cosman, Nova Scotia Minister of Community Services, announced today the signing of a five-year, $74.45 million agreement to launch the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Initiative (EAPD).

Under the Canada-Nova Scotia EAPD agreement, the two governments will share the costs of eligible provincial programs and services that provide the skills, experience and related supports necessary to help people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep employment. This agreement will replace the Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Agreement introduced in 1961.

"Many Nova Scotians with disabilities who are unemployed or outside the active labour market need direct assistance to enter and remain in the workforce," said Senator Graham. "This is what we heard from the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues and in our discussions with people with disabilities. This initiative will help Nova Scotians with disabilities find jobs."

"The EAPD agreement builds on Nova Scotia's previous efforts to help people with disabilities make a successful transition to work," said Ms. Cosman. "It will enhance opportunities for people to prepare for work and to adjust to their unique employment challenges."

The agreement is based on common principles and social policy objectives that were developed jointly by the federal, provincial and territorial governments and endorsed by the first ministers.

Important elements of the EAPD Initiative include:

• a sharp focus on practical employability measures;
• an emphasis on individual needs;
• flexibility in the development and delivery of programs/services;
• a results-based reporting requirement that will enhance both accountability to the public and to program effectiveness;
• program and service development that make the best use of available resources;
• provisions to ensure that no more than 15 per cent of funding is spent on administrative costs.

In Nova Scotia, the programs and services supported by the EAPD Initiative will continue to be provided in a co-operative fashion, primarily through the departments of Community Services, Health and Education and Culture. EAPD funding will be used for a broad range of employability programs and services for people with disabilities including: employment assessment and counselling; training and education supports; and assistive aids and devices.

The Government of Canada is negotiating EAPD agreements with the other provinces and territories. Each agreement will reflect local and regional priorities and needs, as the Canada- Nova Scotia agreement does.

Note: The following is intended for use by broadcast media.

Nova Scotians with disabilities will soon get help finding

and keeping jobs.

The province signed a five-year, 74-million dollar agreement

with the federal government to assist people with disabilities

enter the workforce.

The new agreement will fund provincial programs that provide

employment skills, experience and support for people with

disabilities.