RECOMMENDATION 1

The Committee recommends that the federal government review existing programming provided under the Youth Employment Strategy to ensure its inclusiveness of youth with disabilities, and assess the need for programming dedicated specifically to youth with disabilities in transition from school to work.

RECOMMENDATION 2

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities and the extent of services available to support businesses.

RECOMMENDATION 3

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada study the feasibility and cost of allowing persons experiencing an episodic illness to spread the maximum amount of weeks during which Employment Insurance sickness benefits may be paid, currently set to 15 full weeks, into an equivalent number of days or hours of unemployment due to their episodic illness when these benefits would be paid.

RECOMMENDATION 4

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the feasibility of offering multi-year funding of two to five years to community not-for-profit organizations who deliver employment services to persons with disabilities who face multiple barriers to employment. These service providers should have demonstrated an ability to provide comprehensive, effective, high-quality programming, and have a positive track record of connecting persons with disabilities with employment.

RECOMMENDATION 5

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada develop a strategic plan to ensure employment programs for persons with disabilities are demand driven and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and employers. The plan should include approaches for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to systematically engage persons with disabilities, employers, service providers and the provinces and territories to ensure program relevance.

RECOMMENDATION 6

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada consider the effectiveness of wage subsidies for employers that hire persons with disabilities and submit such findings to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 7

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada monitor closely the spending under the Enabling Accessibility Fund to ensure that financial support is sufficient to meet the objectives of the fund and the expected outcomes. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada should examine options to use the Fund to leverage more not-for-profit organizations and private sector funding.

RECOMMENDATION 8

In addition to the research being done by the Office for Disability Issues at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada examine the need to develop a targeted research funding stream to undertake research with respect to best practices on the economic integration of persons with disabilities in the Canadian workforce in the current economic climate.