| Ministers
Responsible for Social Services
Multilateral Framework on Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities
Over one million adults with disabilities in Canada are currently unemployed or remain out of the labour force. People with disabilities recognize the value of being employed, but many face barriers that impede their participation in the labour market. Systemic barriers are often the major cause of unemployment among people with disabilities. They are looking to governments for assistance and support in breaking down these barriers to employment. In February 1997, the Government of Canada and the Governments of all Provinces and Territories, through the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Subgroup on Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP), embarked on a multilateral process to look at programming currently in place to assist people with disabilities integrate in the labour market and more specifically programming currently funded through the Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act. Governments recognize the valuable contribution VRDP has made to the lives of many people with disabilities since being operationalized in 1962 and wish to build on those program elements which have contributed most to labour market and economic participation. As a result of the shift in focus, both orders of government support the replacement of the Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP) program with a new initiative under which the Government of Canada would share with the provinces and territories costs of initiatives with a focus on employment and labour market interventions for people with disabilities. The new initiative will result in a shift in Government of Canada support from some established programs and services to funding for programs and services which are consistent with an employability focus and could require a multi year implementation period determined through bilateral discussions and agreements. The new initiative will be called the Canada-Provincial/Territorial Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Initiative.
Purpose of Multilateral Framework This framework will guide and inform the negotiations of bilateral agreements between Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and provincial and territorial governments on the new initiative.
In keeping with the desire of the Parties to respond to the needs of people with disabilities to overcome barriers to employment, the goal of the new initiative is to provide funding to provinces and territories for a range of measures which they will provide to enhance the economic participation of working age adults with disabilities in the labour market by helping them to prepare for, attain and retain employment. New bilateral agreements should provide support for programs/services across the full spectrum of needs related to economic participation, from a person taking the first steps to working, through to skills development, on to supporting a person at work and, finally, to ensuring a person is able to remain working.
The Parties agree that the following principles will guide the bilateral agreements on the new initiative: Direct support of employability
Provincial/territorial capital expenses are not eligible costs under this initiative.
Accountability: The bilateral agreements will be implemented in the context of the accountability framework. Coordination: Programs/services for people with disabilities will be designed and implemented in a way to make the best use of available resources to empower citizens with disabilities, and to avoid unnecessary overlap and duplication. Parties to this new initiative, through the planning process, will work cooperatively to ensure the maximum coordination of programs/services related to people with disabilities. People with disabilities will be consulted on program design, implementation and evaluation.
Each province/territory will develop a one to three year implementation plan which will provide stability in programming for people with disabilities while ensuring an orderly introduction of eligible programs and services and an accountability framework. The Parties may extend the implementation period by mutual agreement for a maximum of two years. Through the bilateral negotiations, arrangements will be made for the orderly phasing out of Government of Canada funding of programs/services which are inconsistent with the objectives of the new initiative. The intention of these arrangements and the implementation plan is to ensure the new initiative is fully operational by fiscal year 2001-2002.
Employment interventions funded through the new initiative will be on a continuum, and will recognize the unique labour market challenges faced by people with disabilities. For this reason the distinct needs of each individual with a disability will be considered in determining the set of interventions required to support the person’s preparation for and economic participation in the labour market. Examples of interventions which provinces and territories may consider in deciding on the mix of programs and services to be offered may include but are not limited to: employment counselling and assessment, pre-employment training, skills development, post secondary education support, school to work transitions, on going active employment support, assistive aids and devices, individualized funding, wage subsidies and earnings supplements, supported employment, vocational crisis interventions and self-employment. The specific programs and services eligible for funding will be reflected in bilateral agreements and will focus on removal of barriers and the economic integration of people with disabilities.
Funding will be based on equal contributions from the province/territory and the Government of Canada. In each year of the agreements, the Government of Canada will contribute 50% of the eligible costs incurred by provinces/territories for programs/services funded under this initiative up to the amount of the Government of Canada allocation identified in the bilateral agreement.
The initiative will emphasize annual accountability to consumers and the general public, thereby enhancing and promoting program effectiveness, information-sharing and the identification of best practices. Mechanisms for assessing and evaluating the anticipated and actual results of this initiative would involve persons with disabilities, using either formal structures or advisory groups. This will ensure funds are effectively allocated to best achieve the goals of the initiative. The Parties agree that, in keeping with the employability focus of the initiative and the needs of people with disabilities, results reporting will accommodate a quantitative and qualitative approach and focus on changes in the employment/employability status of program participants in the short, medium and long term. The qualitative approach could focus on:
The Parties agree on the following criteria as the primary indicators for measuring the short and medium term results of interventions under the initiative:
A coordinated planning process between the Parties will be established which takes into consideration the views of individuals with disabilities, service providers and other stakeholders. The planning process will allow both Parties to table their plans for mutual review to ensure a coordinated approach to labour market issues for people with disabilities and will be the basis for annual reviews.
This multilateral framework is intended to provide the foundation for bilateral agreements which will be effective April 1, 1998 and operate for a period of five years until March 31, 2003. Once endorsed by Ministers, this framework will be used to guide negotiations between the Government of Canada and the Governments of each of the Provinces and Territories. Bilateral Agreements will be in the form of administrative agreements. Governments could continue to reflect the applicability of these arrangements through their incorporation in any new legislation pertaining to disability issues. The Parties agree to a multilateral review of the agreements, including the sharing of bilateral evaluation findings, after the first three fiscal years to determine if mutually desirable results are being achieved and if adjustments are required. This review will include qualitative and quantitative analysis.
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