notice

For content relevant to your community in Ontario, Please select your region

A cartoon illustration of a megaphone. It is outlined in thick, black brush strokes.

Commitments to Accessibility and Inclusion in Federal Budget 2019

On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled the Liberal government's fourth federal budget, titled "Investing in the Middle Class." It included measures to support equality for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. 

This budget will see $1 million invested in CNIB's "Come to Work" program to connect Canadians with sight loss with job opportunities in small and medium-sized enterprises to help address a critical need – the full-time employment rate for Canadians with sight loss is only 28 per cent. This project will see CNIB connect with employers to create awareness and capacity within small and medium-sized enterprises for hiring Canadians with sight loss. CNIB will also use these funds to provide skills training and employment-readiness programs.  

A server helps a man use an inaccessible point of sale terminal at a restaurant.

Additionally, the 2019 budget invested $500,000 to improve the accessibility of point-of-sale terminals, which are notoriously inaccessible to people with sight loss. The investment recognizes that there is an urgent need to find a solution that will allow people with sight loss to complete transactions without compromising their financial security and independence. This one-year project will help create a set of regulations to enable a fully accessible payment terminal. 

Another Federal Budget 2019 highlight is the $3 million investment in 2019-20 for the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) to produce accessible reading materials that will be available through public libraries across Canada. The government has also committed $25.8 million over five years to support the production of accessible books for persons with print disabilities through Canada's independent book publishing industry.

These accessibility and inclusion investments will help CNIB continue to change what it is to be blind today. 

Read more articles from the June 2019 issue of Equalize:

Equalize is published quarterly. Missed an issue? Catch up here!

Get the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

More News

April 17, 2024 – Yesterday, the Government of Canada released Budget 2024 and announced that the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit will start in July 2025, pending a regulatory design process. The benefit will be funded with $6.1 billion over the next six years. 

This investment equates to a proposed maximum of $200 per month for eligible recipients who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Further, Budget 2024 does not invest in a strategy or programs that enable people who are blind or have low vision to join the workforce. 

While the passage of the Canada Disability Benefit Act was an important first step, CNIB joins the growing list of organizations and advocates calling on the government to commit to more support to lift people with disabilities out of poverty.  
Together, CNIB and CIRA are making the internet a safer and more equitable place for young people living with blindness.
Sail into summer with a taste of the Caribbean! CNIB is proud to present Sailing on the 6ix – A Night of Senses boat cruise event aboard the Obsession 3. Let’s bring the Caribbean experience to life with the tastes, sounds, and excitement of Toronto’s renowned Caribbean Carnival. Thursday, May 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Get ready! The fifth annual CNIB Guide Dogs Pup Crawl is coming back this year on April 17 and will run for six amazing weeks.
Ready to chase your dreams? CNIB scholarships are here to support your personal and professional aspirations. Whether you're just starting out in a cool apprenticeship, diving into skilled trades, or leveling up with continuing education, there are multiple scholarships, bursaries, and other educational awards available to people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. It doesn't matter where you are on your journey – from youth to adults – a scholarship or bursary is waiting just for you.
Read more news