January 19, 2006

Federal Candidates Challenged to Support Disabilities Labour Market Strategy

CHARLOTTETOWN: The PEI Council of the Disabled today challenged candidates in the January 23rd federal election to support a specific labour market strategy for persons with disabilities. Research conducted for the Council in 2004 reveals that Islanders with disabilities are keen to work and have the skills and interests that employers need. However, the same research shows that employers do not think about the disabled community when they are trying to address their human resource needs.

"PEI Council of the Disabled is calling on candidates to commit to a national labour market strategy that would help Canadians with disabilities get out of the disgraceful unemployment situation in which they find themselves," said PEI Council of the Disabled Executive Director, Barry Schmidl, today. "Just over 50% of persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 are not in the workforce, compared with 16.5% of persons without disabilities."

"Supports such as accessible transportation, attendant care, interpreter services, and technical aids must be in place if people with disabilities are to have equal access to all aspects of life in the community," said Schmidl. "PEI’s Disability Support Program [DSP] has been a step in the right direction, and there are some limited federal funds going into it, but there is so much more that could be done with significant federal participation in disability supports."

"Security is having a job. Parties and candidates need to make commitments to end the massive unemployment of persons with disabilities.," said Schmidl.

Federal labour market policy impacts people with disabilities in many ways. Notably, federal-provincial Labor Market Agreements on training and employment, the Opportunities Fund, Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities [EAPD], and a variety of tax measures and programs touch the employment prospects of people with disabilities.

The Council has declared that, as first steps, the federal government could:

• The Federal Government becomes a model employer of persons with disabilities.
• Rework the Labour Market Agreements to be inclusive of, and address the training and employment of, people with disabilities.
• Expand the Opportunities Fund by $30 million and EAPD funding agreements with the provinces by $200 million.
• Remove disincentives to employment from income support programs, like Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits.
• Expand the Special Opportunities Grant Program, which pays for accommodation of students with disabilities.

The Council of the Disabled has conducted a survey of candidates on disability issues. Responses are published on the Council’s web site at www.peicod.pe.ca.

The PEI Council of the Disabled was formed in 1974 by a group of concerned people with disabilities to speak out on issues such as housing, employment, education, transportation, human rights, and access to support services. The PEI Council of the Disabled promotes the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of Island life.

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For more information contact: Barry Schmidl, Executive Director, 892-9149
or visit the Council's website at www.peicod.pe.ca