FRANCAIS

December 03, 2003

The province’s first ever Disabilities Issues Office was opened today by Christine Melnick, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, at a special event marking the International Day of Disabled Persons. The province also announced interim grants that total $374,600 to support the Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program and funding in support of Winnipeg’s handi-transit service.

"In consultation with community-based groups, we continue to make good progress on the changes needed to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in our society," said Melnick, who is also minister of family services and housing. "We are thrilled to be able to open our first ever Disabilities Issues Office on the International Day of Disabled Persons."

The new office is located in the Cargill Building in downtown Winnipeg at 630-240 Graham Ave. and is a central review body for all provincial departments to assess programs for people with disabilities. Staff will work closely with the disabilities community to improve communication with government on disability policies and program issues. The new office is supported by $319,000 in provincial funding.

The Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program assists with establishing and operating handi-vans to provide transportation services to people with disabilities. Funding is provided to 64 sponsoring communities which have demonstrated a commitment in establishing and operating a handi-van service.

"Many rural Manitobans need and appreciate the assistance they receive from their local handi-van service for medical, family or social trips," said Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk. "The province is pleased to help fund this service that is so important in maintaining the high quality of life Manitobans enjoy."

The province also provides funding to the City of Winnipeg in support of its transit system which includes handi-transit services. A total of $16.9 million in operating funding is provided annually to Winnipeg in support of Winnipeg Transit, from which the city allocates funding for its handi-transit service. The province also pays $3 million a year to the city to assist with the purchase of new low-floor buses, enhancing access to transit services by all citizens of Winnipeg.

The new Disabilities Issues Office was a key commitment made in the strategy paper Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Provincial Strategy on Disability created by the government at the request of community groups. Other commitments fulfilled from the strategy paper include:

• introducing new exemption limits for people living in the community with disabilities which will allow them to use certain lump sum payments to improve their quality of life without affecting their Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) benefits;
• adopting new building design guidelines, making Manitoba the first province to require new government buildings to exceed building codes related to access for the disabled; and
• hosting annual round table meetings on disabilities with representatives from the disabilities community.

In June 2002, the province contributed $147,000 in support to the University of Manitoba for a new master’s program in disability studies. The program is one of only a few in the world that provides post-graduate training for students in the field of disability studies.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

Under the program, the province provides a one-time start-up grant of $6,000 to establish a handi-van service and a one-time capital grant of 50 per cent of the handi-van net cost, up to $10,000. For existing services, an annual operating grant of 37.5 per cent of eligible gross operating costs to a maximum of $20,000 for communities operating one vehicle or $30,000 for communities operating more than one vehicle is provided. A final grant payment will be made in March 2004.