CALGARY, April 17, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Member of Parliament for Calgary–Nose Hill, today announced an investment to build a new accessible playground at West Dalhousie School in Calgary.

The new playground will have a focus on accessibility for all children, including those with differing levels of skills and abilities. The new structure will include a ramp, U-swings and climbing events. The planned new rubber surface will ensure the playground's accessibility year-round, so families can enjoy the wide variety of activities the playground will offer after its revitalization.

Minister Poilievre also highlighted the Harper Government's Family Tax Cut and Benefits Plan that puts money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadian families. The proposed enhancements to the Universal Child Care Benefit would provide almost $2,000 per year for every child under the age of 6 and extend $720 to every child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts would be retroactive to January 1, 2015, and reflected in monthly payments to recipients in July 2015.

Quick Facts

• Since the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, our Government has funded over 1,800 projects helping thousands of Canadians gain better access to their communities' facilities, programs and services.
• There is currently an EAF call for proposals open. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding for projects that will help improve accessibility in community facilities across Canada. The deadline for submissions is April 27, 2015.
• Under this call for proposals, organizations can receive a grant of up to $50,000.
• Examples of eligible projects could include:
  • building accessible playgrounds for children with disabilities;
  • widening hallways and doorways, installing elevators and automated power doors;
  • improving lighting, acoustics or contrast;
  • installing accessible washrooms and service counters; and
  • upgrading facilities that offer programs for adults and/or children with autism and other cognitive/intellectual impairments.
• The Family Tax Cut and Benefits, combined with tax relief introduced by the Government since 2006, will provide a typical family of four with up to $6,600 in tax relief and enhanced benefits in 2015.
• Low- and middle-income families will receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided.

Quotes

"I am pleased to announce funding for a new accessible playground at the West Dalhousie School that will help bring the community together. The children who will use this playground have diverse needs, and our package of tax cuts and benefits will ensure that their parents can make the decisions that are best for them."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"All of us would like to see every child have the opportunity to enjoy healthy and safe play. That's why we are so pleased today to partner with the West Dalhousie Parents Association as they provide updated equipment that will better meet the needs of this community."
– The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Member of Parliament for Calgary–Nose Hill

"The West Dalhousie Parents Association is so pleased to have received the Enabling Accessibility Fund for the construction of our accessible playground. Playgrounds foster the social, emotional, cognitive and physical well‑being of our children. They truly are an important place in the lives of families and children of all abilities in our community. An accessible playground is an ambitious project, mainly due to the increased costs of providing accessibility. The Enabling Accessibility Fund has helped make this project a reality."
– Lisa Turner, Chair, West Dalhousie School Council

Associated Links 

• Canada's Economic Action Plan
• Funding: Enabling Accessibility in Communities
• Canada.ca/taxsavings
• Helping Families Prosper

Backgrounder

The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) was originally announced in 2007 as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. Economic Action Plan 2013 extended the EAF on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to continue to help improve communities and workplaces accessibility for Canadians with disabilities.

Since the first call for proposals in 2008, over 1,800 projects have been awarded funding to improve accessibility in Canadian communities and workplaces.

The community accessibility stream of the Enabling Accessibility Fund provides funding to eligible recipients for capital cost projects that improve accessibility. To be considered eligible for funding, projects must be directly related to removing barriers and increasing accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities. All projects must also respond to funding priorities identified during the present call for proposals, including support from their community.

For further information on how to submit proposals under the current call for community-based projects, please visit: www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/eaf/

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada