Statement by Minister Hajdu on National AccessAbility Week Français
GATINEAU, QC, May 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, today issued the following statement to launch National AccessAbility Week 2025:
"I am delighted today to mark the beginning of National AccessAbility Week 2025. As I take up my new duties as Minister of Jobs and Families, I look forward to celebrating and learning about the achievements and valuable contributions of persons with disabilities, and recognizing the efforts of individuals, organizations and communities who work tirelessly to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion across the country.
As the Prime Minister noted in the recently published Mandate Letter for his new Cabinet, Canada is a dynamic country that celebrates our diversity, cares for the most vulnerable among us, and strives for a better future for all. My work as the federal minister responsible for continuing to lead on the government's accessibility agenda will be guided by this assertion. I will seek to break down the barriers that may prevent the one in four Canadians with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society.
This year's theme, 'Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future,' signals that a barrier-free Canada can only be achieved if we work with the disability community, in the spirit of 'Nothing Without Us.' I welcome this approach of joining forces to help ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to our communities and workplaces.
I look forward to building on the progress made by the previous government since the Accessible Canada Act came into force nearly six years ago, and since the introduction of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities. A cornerstone of this plan is the new Canada Disability Benefit, which is designed to improve the financial well-being of low-income, working-age Canadians with disabilities. I will have more to say about the launch of the application period for the Canada Disability Benefit in June, with payments expected to begin in July.
National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate how far we've come—and the work ahead—to realize our goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040. I commit to building on the actions taken in recent years, and to working with my Cabinet colleagues to achieve a truly inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for persons with disabilities in Canada by 2040.
This week, and throughout the year, let's make positive changes together. When all Canadians have equal opportunities to contribute to our communities and workplaces, we build a stronger economy and a stronger Canada for everyone.
Happy National AccessAbility Week!"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
40 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Ballard Power announces results of 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
VANCOUVER, BC, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) today announced results of its 2025 Annual General Meeting, which was held on June 4 th. All nominees listed in the Management Proxy Circular dated April 7 th, 2025 were elected as directors of the Company. Each of the Ballard directors was re-elected by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy. Director biographies are available in the "Our Leadership" section of the Company's website. In addition, KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, was re-appointed as auditor for the Company, and an advisory vote approved the approach to executive compensation. Details of each of these resolutions are included in the Company's Management Proxy Circular. About Ballard Power Systems Ballard Power Systems' (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero-emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, and stationary power. To learn more about Ballard, please visit Further Information
Cision Canada
41 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
HomeEquity Bank launches powerful new series featuring real Customers and their inspiring stories of living 55 & Better!
TORONTO, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ - In celebration of Ontario Seniors Month, HomeEquity Bank is proud to launch a new series featuring real customers sharing their personal stories of the powerful impact of choosing a CHIP Reverse Mortgage. These stories, shared by the customers themselves, spotlight the very real and very human decisions aging Canadians face when it comes to aging in place. The "55 & Better" series features video interviews and personal stories of Canadians who have tapped into the equity and savings in their home and transformed the way they live in their retirement years. From managing rising costs, to starting a living legacy for family, to taking a dream vacation, these HomeEquity Bank clients are living the lives they envisioned and sharing their impactful experiences. "Speaking to our customers directly helps me connect more deeply to our purpose. For so many Canadians 55 and better, their home isn't simply a place to live. It represents the life they've built, and their desire to maintain their empowerment, dignity, and independence as they age – which is exactly our purpose at HomeEquity Bank. Their home is the foundation of their dreams for their future," says Katherine Dudtschak, President and CEO of HomeEquity Bank. "These stories shine a light on the proactive, confident choices our clients are making to create peace of mind and realize the vision they have for their golden years. These are powerful, personal stories of people who are charting their own paths forward, without compromise. It's a privilege to share them." Click here to watch the "55 & Better" series: Why Now? With more Canadians than ever entering retirement age, questions about how they can be empowered to age in place with financial independence are becoming increasingly urgent. Ontario Seniors Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of older adults, and to elevate their voices and experiences. The "55 & Better" series brings forward authentic, inspiring stories about how Canadians 55+ are accessing the savings they have built in their homes, to take control of their retirement finances and live the retirement they deserve, while staying in the homes they love. Accessing the equity and savings they have in their home is a sound financial tool available internationally, and a mainstream solution that covers the gap of limited retirement income or access to liquid capital in our golden years. Canadians do not fit the outdated stereotype of a reverse mortgage client; they are savvy, vibrant and active and are planning for life as they dreamed it. We know that almost 9 in 10 recently funded HomeEquity Bank client agree that having a CHIP Reverse Mortgage has provided them with a sense of freedom. In-home care is another driving factor, as Canadians are looking to stay their homes rather than move to assisted living or care facilities. These personal accounts offer an inspiring and timely perspective at a time when more than 90 per cent of Canadians 45+ say they want to stay in their homes as they age. The series launched June 5, 2025, with new stories released weekly throughout the month across digital platforms, newsletters, and social media. Viewers will meet real people who chose financial independence and dignity and discovered what it means to live the lives they want, in the homes they love thanks to HomeEquity Bank. Speaking to and staying close to our customers ensures we are continually refining the standard of excellence in serving the Canadian 55 plus demographic. Our purpose goes far beyond the reverse mortgage solution: we offer access to a lifestyle our customers have earned, through the investments they've made in their home. HomeEquity Bank is a Schedule 1 Canadian Bank offering a range of reverse mortgage solutions including the flagship CHIP Reverse Mortgage™ product. The company was founded more than 35 years ago to address the financial needs of Canadians who wanted to access the equity of their top asset – their home. The Bank is committed to empowering Canadians aged 55 plus to live the retirement they deserve, in the home they love. HomeEquity Bank is a portfolio company of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, a global investor that delivers retirement income for 340,000 current and retired teachers in Ontario. For more information, visit
Toronto Sun
44 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Canadians divided on whether U.S. is 'ally' or 'enemy' country: Poll
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 3 minute read A Canadian flag flies next to the American one at the Lewiston-Queenston border crossing bridge on Feb. 4, 2025 in Niagara Falls, Canada. Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images OTTAWA — Faced with a trade war they didn't start, Canadians are divided on whether they see the United States as an 'enemy' or an 'ally,' a new poll suggests. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Leger poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, surveyed more than 1,500 people between May 30 and June 1. Almost a third of respondents said they view the U.S. as a 'neutral country,' while 27 per cent said they consider it an 'ally' and 26 per cent see it as an 'enemy country.' Just over a third of men said they consider the U.S. an ally, compared with one in five women. Almost 30 per cent of women said they view the U.S. as an enemy, compared with 22 per cent of men. Older Canadians, those at least 55 years of age, were more likely to consider the U.S. an enemy than younger Canadians. Regionally Albertans were most likely to consider the U.S. an ally while Ontarians and British Columbians were most likely to see it as an enemy. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The difference is starkest between political party supporters, with 44 per cent of Conservative supporters saying they view the U.S. as an ally, compared with 17 per cent of Liberal supporters and 12 per cent of NDP supporters said the same. Comparatively 16 per cent of Conservative supporters said they view the U.S. as an enemy country, while 36 per cent of Liberal supporters and 41 per cent of NDP supporters said the same. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to double his levies on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent. He claimed the measure will protect the country's national security and domestic industries. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government will need to take 'some time' to craft a response to the increased U.S. tariffs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The number of Canadians that report seeing the U.S. as an enemy country has dropped by six points since mid-March. At that time, 32 per cent of survey respondents told Leger they viewed the country as an enemy. The number of Canadians that view the U.S. as an ally also decreased by two percentage points since March, from 29 to 27 per cent, while the number that view it as a neutral country increased by six percentage points, from 24 to 30 per cent. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, said that, broadly speaking, the patterns haven't changed much since the organization asked the question in February — when 27 per cent of respondents said they viewed the U.S. as an enemy and 30 per cent said they viewed it as an ally. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Enns said the decline in the number of people saying the U.S. is an enemy likely reflects the overall sentiment on tariffs. 'It's still obviously there and, you know, clearly now we're dealing with higher steel tariffs, but the commentary coming from the White House and the Trump administration seems to have dissipated a bit and that's probably helping just tone things down,' he said. Enns said Canada also has a new prime minister with a mandate that might 'take the edge off things.' 'I think that just keeps things more at a moderate level, and I think that reflects in people maybe feeling a little less threatened by the U.S.,' Enns said. Enns said political and business leaders have also sent a consistent message that the U.S. remains an important trading partner. He said that may encourage Canadians to believe there's a way to 'work things out.' The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Celebrity Columnists Toronto & GTA
