CANADA Calgary Local Employment Programs for Disabled Workers

Calgary Residents with Disabilities Receive Help from Local Employment Program

People with disabilities will get help preparing for jobs as a result of the Government of Canada’s support for a local employment program. Deepak Obhrai, member of Parliament for Calgary East, made the announcement recently on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians have the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Obhrai. “By supporting this project, our government is helping Canadians with disabilities maximize their potential and independence.”

Opportunity Works Calgary Inc. will receive $240,431 under the Self-Employment component of the Opportunities Fund for its Business Advising for Mental Healthproject. This project will help 90 persons with mental health disabilities to become self‑employed.

“Opportunity Works helps people help themselves,” said Glen Hickerson, chair of Opportunity Works Calgary Inc.’s Board of Directors. “By encouraging self‑employment and independence, the impact on the community of these funding dollars is multiplied several times over. Programs like these give people with mental health challenges hope.”

The federal government is working with stakeholders to make sure that Canadians get the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the workforce and contribute to the quality of life in their communities.

The Opportunities Fund helps support an array of activities, such as increasing employability skills, providing work experience and preparing individuals for self‑employment. The Government of Canada said it is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent Canadians from reaching their full potential with a wide range of effective policies, programs and services tailored to people with disabilities. (workersxzcompxzkit)

The Fund is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored it’s commitment to this strategy when it introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development.

Author Robert Elliott,executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers’ comp issues.