Today, Friday, December 3, we are pleased to join Canadians from coast to coast to coast and around the world in celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This year’s theme is leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. 

The annual observance of the IDPD was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992, with the goal of promoting the understanding of disability issues and mobilizing support for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. IDPD also seeks to increase awareness of the gains realized from the full integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life. 

This government has achieved many accomplishments for persons with disabilities, but we have much more work to do. In the spirit of Nothing without Us, we are continuing to build on the steps we have taken since 2015. This includes the historic Accessible Canada Act and the ongoing work to create a new Canada disability benefit.

We have also begun work on creating Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which will include:

• a new Canadian disability benefit, that has the potential to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadians with disabilities currently living in poverty; 
• a robust employment strategy; and 
• improved processes to determine eligibility for federal disability programs and benefits. 

I encourage everyone to learn more about the important contributions of persons with disabilities in our communities. Activities can include:

• Hosting or participating in local discussions with persons with disabilities.
• Recognizing the contributions of local leaders who are making our communities more accessible and inclusive.
• Highlighting local projects funded through the Enabling Accessibility Fund and the importance of building more accessible spaces.

Canada is committed to upholding and safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities and strongly advocates for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society, because everyone benefits when all Canadians can participate equally in their workplaces and communities.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Canada is pleased to share an opportunity for Canadians with disabilities to tell the federal government about their businesses. The results of the questionnaire will help develop initiatives to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in federal procurement opportunities.

The Request for Information (RFI) invitation directed to businesses owned or led by persons with disabilities can be found here.