Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

www.hrsdc.gc.ca

2006 Federal Report

Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities

This brochure is a summary of Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities – 2006 Annual Report on the government’s progress on disability issues.

For a copy of the complete report, please see the contact us section.

The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is a focal point within the Government of Canada for key partners working to promote the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in learning, work and community life. As part of its mandate, ODI provides knowledge and builds awareness on disability issues and programs. Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities is one way in which ODI contributes to this disability knowledge base.

The Government of Canada's efforts at integrating services for people with disabilities have, for a number of years, been guided by the understanding that disability is not defi ned merely as being the direct result of a health problem or any physical or mental limitation. Instead, it is seen as the result of complex interactions between a health problem or functional limitation and the social, political, cultural, economic, and physical environment. These, in combination with personal factors such as age, gender, and level of education, can result in a disadvantage- that is, a disability.

Through a vast array of policies and integrated programs, the federal government seeks to contribute to the improved well- being of people with disabilities and the organizations that support them, and to promote the principles of citizenship. Regardless of the means chosen to address disability issues, it is now a generally established principle that functional limitations or health problems alone do not prevent people from participating. Obstacles in the socio- economic and built environment do.

In this context, the Government of Canada will be seeking to introduce a National Disability Act to promote reasonable access to medical care, medical equipment, education, employment, transportation, and housing for Canadians with disabilities. The Government of Canada will engage concerned stakeholders, including Canadians with disabilities, in gathering information and eventually developing a proposal for this Act.

Following in the footsteps of previous federal reports this report provides an overview of key initiatives that different federal departments and agencies have implemented, individually or in collaboration, or are in the course of implementing in 2005–06 and beyond. This report uses the same accountability framework as that of the earlier reports to describe progress made and initiatives taken with the goal of achieving full citizenship for all Canadians, including people with disabilities. The information is divided into the major life areas: human rights and culture; accessibility and disability supports; learning; skills and employment; income; income support and tax measures; and health and well-being.

Chapter One: Human Rights and Culture

As human rights are fundamental to the full participation of people with disabilities, this report begins with a general description of the Government of Canada’s efforts to protect and promote the principles of full citizenship. This chapter describes the role that the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Canadian Heritage assume in this area.

Percentage of Complaints to CHRC that cited disability as the grounds for discrimination

  • 2002 44%
  • 2005 50%

Chapter Two: Accessibility and Disability Supports

Accessibility and disability supports are fundamental requirements for full participation. Without them, people with disabilities risk being excluded. This chapter focuses on government actions in the following areas: transportation, housing, information, assistive devices, adaptive technology, and support for communities.

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Programs for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP-D)

  • RRAP-D Homeowners reporting modifi cations improved overall quality of housing– 87%  
  • RRAP-D Beneficiaries reporting modifi cations improved or signifi cantly improved ability to participate in daily living activities– 92%  

Chapter Three: Learning, Skills, and Employment

Learning and developing skills are key instruments for increasing the potential of people with disabilities to participate in all dimensions of Canadian society and to seize available employment opportunities and gain autonomy and self- reliance. This chapter focuses on government initiatives in the area of students’ loans, vocational rehabilitation, and employment programs.

Representation of People with Disabilities— Employers covered by the Employment Equity Act

  • Federally regulated private sector and Crown corporations 2.5%  
  • Federal public service 5.7%  
  • Separate 4.8%  
  • Other public sector 1.8%  
  • Total 3.1%  

Chapter Four: Income, Income Support, and Tax Measures

In addition to providing services to people with disabilities, the Government of Canada provides them with some income support to reduce the impact of market forces and the threat of poverty and exclusion. The Government also provides tax measures to people with disabilities and their caregivers to recognize that these individuals face extra disability- related expenses that reduce their ability to pay tax. This chapter describes income support programs and tax measures.

Budget 2006:

  • Increased the maximum annual Child Disability Benefit to $2,300 and extended eligibility for the to middle-and higher- income families
  • Increased the maximum amount of the refundable medical expense supplement to $1,000 from $767 for the 2006 tax year.

Chapter Five: Health and Well- being

The ultimate goal of all disability-related programs and policies is to maintain and promote the overall well- being of people with disabilities. Health promotion and services are key instruments for achieving this goal. This chapter provides some data on how people with and without disabilities assess their own health status and on other health related issues (e. g., correlation of poor health and work incapacity). But the focus is on the key disability- related initiatives by Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

PROGRAM/INITIATIVE AMOUNT $millions/year  
Accessibility and Disability Supports
CTA programs 2.1
CMHC programs (e. g., RRAP-D) 40.4
Funding for Special Olympics and Deafl ympics sports- Canadian Heritage (CH) 0.9
Paralympics sports funding (CH) 9.8
Sport participation funding (CH) 0.3
Sport Canada's Grants and Contributions (CH) 130.0
Social Development Partnerships Program- Disability (HRSDC) 13.6
Learning, Skills, and Employment
Canada Study Grant for the Accommodation of Students with Permanent Disabilities (HRSDC) Data not available
Canada Access Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities (HRSDC) 18.1
National Literacy Program (HRSDC) 0.9
Office of Learning Technologies Program (disability-specifi c projects) (HRSDC) 1.6
Special Education Program (INAC) 106.0
PROGRAM/INITIATIVE AMOUNT $millions/year  
Income Support Benefits
Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities (HRSDC) 219.9
Opportunities Fund (HRSDC) 23.6
Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (WD) 0.8
Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy- Disability component (HRSDC) 3.0
Health and Well-being
Population Health Fund and other health-related grants and contributions 5.8
Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (PHAC) 0.6
FAS/FAE Initiative (HC) 1.2
Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (PHAC) 0.7
Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada (PHAC) 55.2
Veterans Independence Program (VAC) 273.6
Veterans treatment benefits program (VAC) 293.2
War Veterans Allowance (VAC) 20.6
Veterans Affairs Canada Mental Health Initiative (VAC) 0.2
PROGRAM/INITIATIVE AMOUNT $millions/year  
Income Support Benefits Canada Pension Plan Disability (HRSDC) 3,300.0
Canada Pension Plan Disability, vocational rehabilitation program (HRSDC) 2.8
Federal workers compensation benefits (HRSDC) 155.1
Employment Insurance sickness benefits (HRSDC) 813.2
Assisted Living Program (INAC) 682.3
Child Disability Benefit (FC and CRA) 90.0
Veterans Disability Pension Programs (VAC) 1,656.0
Tax Measures (FC and CRA)*
Disability Tax Credit 440.0
Medical Expense Tax Credit 825.0
Caregiver Credit 81.0
Infirm Dependant Credit 6.0
Disability Supports Deduction 8.0
Refundable Medical Expense Supplement 100.0
TOTAL 9,381.4

* Figures are based on departmental estimates. Programs which benefit people with disabilities indirectly are not included. More information on this table is available in the full report.

Contact us

  • Call 1-800-O-Canada  
  • 1-800-622-6232 (toll-free)
  • 1-800-926-9105 (TTY) for persons with a hearing or speech impairment
  • On-line at www.hrsdc.gc.ca
  • Visit a Service Canada Centre near you

This publication is also available in alternative formats (large print, audio cassette, Braille and computer diskette) in French and English by calling 1-888-844-4477 (toll free) on a touch-tone phone. TTY/TDD at 1-800-645-7735.  

Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre « Le rôle du gouvernement du Canada en ce qui concerne l’intégration des personnes handicapées (2006) ».  

Alternate formats

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Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities (PDF Version, 3.1 Mb)

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Date Modified:
2011-07-28