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

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Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2009

Message from the Minister

The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P., Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

The Government of Canada is building a stronger and more competitive Canada by providing Canadians with choices that will help them participate and succeed in their communities to improve their overall quality of life.

With that mission in mind, the Government is taking action towards creating greater opportunities for all Canadians, particularly Canadians with disabilities. We are building a country that, more than ever, is becoming accessible for everyone.

Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2009 is the seventh annual report on disability issues in Canada. This year’s report presents a portrait of Canadians with disabilities.

This report provides invaluable information to support all levels of government, associations, researchers and non-governmental organizations in designing and planning services to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in society.

The challenges people with disabilities face in their day-to-day lives are numerous and often go unnoticed. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has introduced a number of measures that benefit people with disabilities and their families. These include:

  • the new Registered Disability Savings Plan, which helps parents and others to save for the long-term financial security of Canadians with severe disabilities;
  • the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund with $45 million over three years to help cover the cost of improving physical accessibility for people with disabilities;
  • a new Working Income Tax Benefit that includes an additional supplement for low-income working Canadians with disabilities, since they face even greater barriers to workforce participation;
  • the establishment of the Canadian Mental Health Commission, which will lead to the development of a national mental health strategy; and
  • the exemption of training from the goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) and the expansion of the list of GST/HST-free medical and assistive devices to include service dogs to help people cope with disabilities or conditions such as autism.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we are building on these significant investments for people with disabilities.

Our government will continue to work with provincial and territorial partners to ensure that all barriers are removed for everyone in Canada. Our combined efforts make it possible for everyone to participate fully in society.

The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

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Date Modified:
2011-08-02