HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND
MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT
AND INCOME ASSISTANCE

Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities Federal Announcement with Honourable Monte Solberg

February 16, 2007

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Good morning.   It's a pleasure to be here again.   I always enjoy visiting the Neil Squire Society, and am pleased that Minister Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Mayor Sam Sullivan, Mayor of Vancouver, and employment program staff from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance could join us today.   Also here are my colleagues, Richard Lee, MLA for Burnaby-North and John Nuraney, MLA for Burnaby-Willingdon.

I would like to acknowledge Gary Birch, Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society, for his gracious hospitality and his help in making this event possible.   Recently, I had the pleasure of touring Gary's Assistive Technology for Employment Centre.   It is a centre full of specialized devices that enable people with disabilities to achieve their independence in the workplace - and that gets me to the reason we're here today.  

Like the Honourable Monte Solberg and the Government of Canada, British Columbia is committed to taking action to ensure people with disabilities are provided with the supports and services they need to enhance their opportunities.   Each year, B.C. is investing significantly - spending more than $3.6 billion on programs and services specifically for people with disabilities.   These supports include enhanced health and dental supports, social housing, home support, residential care, and income and transportation supports.   But it is the employment part of our programs that is so vital to British Columbians with disabilities - and to our communities.  

And that's why it's a great honour, on behalf of the province, to take part in the renewal of the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities.   The federal and provincial governments have a long tradition of working jointly on issues concerning persons with disabilities.   We recognize that there are many skilled and talented people with disabilities who want the opportunity to pursue their employment goals, as they are able.  

Today there are approximately 300,000 British Columbians with disabilities who are working-age - and many of them want to work.   They are individuals who are just as well-trained and educated as those without disabilities:   34,000 have college diplomas; 30,000 have trade certificates; and 28,000 have university degrees.   And yet people with disabilities face limited opportunity in the workplace - with an employment rate of only 44 per cent.  

The Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities affirms the commitment of both the Governments of B.C. and Canada to contribute towards ensuring British Columbians with disabilities - who want to work - will be able to do so.   This Agreement works towards providing a range of specialized employment, pre-employment, and self-employment services like job training and placement, technical equipment and adaptive accommodations, and follow-up workplace support.   Neil Squire Society's Job Focus is just one of the many programs that are jointly funded through this Agreement.

Of course, enabling people with disabilities with the means to be able to work is only part of the equation - an important part of the equation to be sure, but only a part.   The other critical part is ensuring employers know the value of what persons with disabilities can do and offer to the labour market.   And to that end, B.C. is leading the way.   As we move towards the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, we are focused on creating a province of equal opportunity where every British Columbian has the chance to excel and achieve success in the workplace.  

Most recently, a t the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention last October, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and I, as co-chairs of the Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities, called on municipal and business leaders across the province to increase the employment of people with disabilities in each community across the province by 10 per cent by 2010.   We call this the 10 by 10 Challenge.   Right now there are approximately 132,000 British Columbians with disabilities working.   We want to see that go up to 145,000 by 2010.   That's another 13,000 people with disabilities participating in B.C.'s local economies.

To assist communities in taking up this challenge, we have mapped the employment placement goal for each community in B.C. - and are providing the tools to take action.   This includes supporting businesses with an employer handbook that is a step by step guide to hiring and working with a person with disabilities, and launching an interactive, newly revised WorkAble Solutions website that literally connects people with disabilities with employers looking to hire.  

As well, 2010 Legacies Now, a community partner with us in this Challenge, has published their Measuring Up Guide that promotes full accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in B.C. communities.  

Over the next few years, as part of our commitment to the 10 by 10 Challenge and the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities, we will be expanding upon the work we've already accomplished and will be doing even more as we work towards our goal to establish British Columbia as the leading place in Canada where people with disabilities can live the life they choose.

And I'm convinced - knowing the commitment from our federal partners, our ministry staff and individuals such as yourselves - that we will succeed.  

Thank you.