Funding of over $80,000 through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for five projects in southeastern Manitoba will improve access for people with disabilities. This announcement was made by The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, who was joined by Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher.
Left to right: Russ Dyck – City of Steinbach, Chantel Gadient – Niverville, Ted Falk – MP for Provencher, Hon. Candice Bergen – MP for Portage-Lisgar, John Funk – Niverville.
Minister Bergen and Member of Parliament Falk made this announcement at the St. Jean Baptiste Parks & Recreation Association which is receiving $50,000 in EAF funding for its exterior renovation project. The project consists of constructing an exterior ramp that will provide access to the entrance hall and provide an accessible patio that will be integrated into the overall landscape design.
These projects are 5 of 432 new EAF projects across Canada, which represent a total investment of approximately $12.95 million. The 2015 EAF call for proposals for these projects was open March 16 to April 27, 2015. Under this call, organizations could receive up to $50,000 towards an accessibility project as long as 35 percent of the total eligible costs came from non-federal government sources. In keeping with the Government’s focus on helping families, priority was given to projects that enhance access for children with disabilities (e.g. outdoor playgrounds). Projects that increased access for Veterans with disabilities and seniors with disabilities were also included as priorities.
In addition to this announcement, Minister Bergen and Member of Parliament Falk reiterated the Government’s commitment to put money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadian families. This commitment includes having increased the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) from $100 to $160 per month (totalling up to $1,920 per year) for every child under the age of 6 and having introduced a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 per year) for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts are retroactive to January 1, 2015, and will be reflected in monthly payments to recipients beginning in July 2015.
