Manitoba Disabilities Issues Office
To view PDF files, you must have a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available as a free download.
Action in 2009/2010
Social and Affordable Housing
Funding is now available for social and affordable housing throughout Manitoba. Projects in Brandon, Thompson and The Pas will include fully accessible units and the ground floor units for these three projects will be visitable.
Accessible Housing
Through a cost sharing agreement with the federal government, there will be $5.4 million in new funding available for individuals and non-profit organizations to build new housing and/or complete major renovations on existing facilities to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Housing with Supports
Manitoba’s Homelessness Strategy with a Focus on Mental Health Housing will make important new investments in developing a range of community based housing options. This will include support services for individuals with mental health and homelessness issues.
Investments to support persons with mental health issues total $10 million and include four projects:
- There will be 285 more mental health housing units with supports. Integrated housing options will range from independent living with support, to 24-hour supportive housing units.
- The Portable Housing Benefit will provide 600 low-income Manitobans who have mental health issues and unstable housing with a rent subsidy of up to $200 per month. This will help recipients access a broader range of private housing and give them added support from eight support workers in communities across Manitoba.
- The Manitoba Housing Wellness Initiative (CWI) will expand from five Winnipeg sites to 14 sites province-wide. The expansion includes enhanced services and 11 more housing and mental-health support workers.
- The Homelessness Outreach Team has seven outreach workers, located in Winnipeg, Thompson, The Pas and Brandon to help link the homeless with health, social services and housing opportunities.
The strategy will be enhanced and complemented this fall when the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) begins an $18-million, four-year demonstration project in Winnipeg. It will provide housing supports for up to 300 Aboriginal people with mental illness who are homeless.
Access to Government
In 2009, the provincial government introduced the Manitoba Policy on Access to Government Publications, Events and Services to ensure persons with disabilities have equal access to government information, events and services through:
- promotion of accommodations for persons with disabilities
- training for departmental disability access co-ordinators
- print and web disability access information campaign
Building Accessibility
In 2009/10 an estimated $2.8 million in funding will improve accessibility projects in public buildings, including:
- Emerson Tourist Information Centre Accessibility Upgrades
- Brandon Provincial Office Building Washroom Upgrades
- Portage la Prairie Provincial Office Building Washroom Upgrades
- Red River College - Replace Overpass Wheelchair Lift
- Red River College Bus Loop Stair Repair and Ramp
- Minnedosa Court House Elevator Installation
- Robert Fletcher Building Elevator Upgrade
- Agricultural Services Building Elevator Upgrade
- Morden Court House Accessibility Upgrades
In 2009/10 over $255,000 was provided to non-profit community organizations through the Community Places Program for accessibility enhancements.
Children’s Special Services
In 2009/10, Children’s Special Services receives an additional $2.7 million to increase the availability of services to families. In particular, additional spaces in the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program for pre-school children with Autism Spectrum Disorder will be made available, as well as additional therapy interventions, respite service and assistive technology devices.
Child Care Inclusion Initiative
Under Family Choices – Manitoba’s Five Year Agenda for Early Learning and Child Care, $400,000 in new funding has been made available to support children with special needs through the early learning and child care system. The Inclusion Support Program will improve mentoring and training for early childhood educators to ensure children needing additional support receive the best possible care and opportunities to learn and thrive in integrated, community settings.
Primary Caregiver Tax Credit Access Plan
This tax credit provides recognition and financial support for volunteer primary caregivers. Effective January 2009, the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit will provide up to $1,020 per year to primary caregivers for spouses, relatives, neighbours or friends whose needs are assessed at Home Care Level 2 or higher. Family Services and Housing will ensure that caregivers of eligible participants in the Supported Living Program and Children’s Special Services Program automatically qualify for the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit.
Increased Community Living Supports
The Supported Living Program will receive $10.1 million in new funding for 2009/10. The program will support more people, increase the number of supported living service agencies and increase agency grants. Over the past decade, the Supported Living Program budget has increased by 223 per cent.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
The taxable portion of withdrawals from RDSPs is now exempt from family net income when calculating eligibility for three tax credits:
- Education Property Tax Credit
- School Tax Credit for Homeowners
- Personal Tax Credit
Income from RDSPs will also be exempt when calculating monthly Employment and Income Assistance benefits.
Civil Service Disability Awareness Campaign
The Civil Service Commission has developed a government-wide disability awareness campaign for provincial employees. The goal is to promote the advantages of hiring persons with disabilities within the civil service and ensuring they have access to the accommodations and supports they need to do their jobs.
Employment Supports
The Reaching E-Quality Employment Services program will receive $522,000 in provincial funds. The program will help 500 people with disabilities enter the labour force.
Manitoba Competitiveness Training and Trade has published a comprehensive employment guide that outlines the employment-related programs and services available to persons with disabilities.
Accessible Education
A total of $3 million of this year’s record public schools capital investment will increase inclusion of children and youth with disabilities. There will be 15 more schools with grooming rooms/specialized washrooms, chair lifts and elevators for students with disabilities.
Proposed Enhancements to The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act
Legislation was introduced in May to strengthen the Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP). It includes a new definition of catastrophic injury. When the legislation is passed, it will provide $14 million in enhanced benefits for victims of catastrophic automobile accidents.
Diabetes Call to Action
Funding of $250,000 was committed to create a website and public awareness campaign to help Manitobans identify the risk factors that can lead to Type 2 diabetes and find ways to prevent or delay the onset.
The province will also improve access to needed diabetes foot care in three northern communities. A pilot program will employ Manitoba-made camera technology to connect patients in Easterville, Grand Rapids and Moose Lake with doctors in Winnipeg.
Transportation
The province provides funding for rural municipalities, through the Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program, to operate Handi-transit services. Funding includes annual operating grants and one-time capital grants, for a total of over $1 million.
Accessible Recreation
Funding has been committed to upgrade existing parks and campgrounds, including projects aimed at making recreation more accessible to persons with disabilities.
ServiceLink
ServiceLink, a new online tool, has been developed to help people identify what Family
Services and Housing benefits and services they may be eligible for.
