Minister of state Candice Bergen visits Newmarket to announce $450K in employment program funding

Yorkregion.com
April 13, 2015
By Teresa Latchford

A federal funding infusion is aimed at helping more individuals living with a disability find employment.

Minister of state for social development Candice Bergen announced almost $450,000 in funding for the YMCA of Greater Toronto as part of its goal to help Canadians with disabilities gains the skills and experience they need to find jobs. Accompanied by Newmarket-Aurora MPP Lois Brown, Bergen announced the commitment at Newmarket’s YMCA location, where 90 people with disabilities are expected to benefit from the program.

“To support Canada’s long-term prosperity, we must ensure that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so,” Bergen said. “The project announced today will help Canadians of all abilities get the skills needed to obtain jobs and enable employers to benefit from their skills and talents.”

There are 800,000 Canadians living with disabilities and just fewer than half want to work but are not currently employed, she explained. Projects such as this one are a win-win for both the employee, who becomes more independent, and the employer, who benefits from a devoted worker, she said.

The project runs for 52-weeks and participants who have little to no labour experience will learn to obtain and maintain employment through one-on-one and group workshops, job coaching and actual work experience, all hosted by the YMCA of Greater Toronto.

“Canadians with disabilities deserve every opportunity to participate in the job market, and that’s why partnerships with organizations like the YMCA are so important,” Brown added.

The funds come from the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, which was increased this year to $40 million annually.

The second stop in the community today was Newmarket’s Country Garden Montessori, where Bergen discussed the Family Tax Cut and Benefits Plan with parents and staff. She explained all families with children will be eligible for the federal credit of up to $2,000 for couples with children younger than 18 years, effective as of 2014, changes to the universal child care benefit to $160 per month for children younger than six years and $60 per month for those aged six through 17 and a $1,000 increase in the maximum dollar amounts that can be claimed under the child care expense deduction, effective for the 2015 tax year.

Spousal income splitting will also go a long way to helping families with their bottom line, Bergen said.