MHA raises questions about status of funding for persons with disabilities

For Immediate Release

November 20, 2013

MHA raises questions about status of funding for persons with disabilities

St. John’s—St. John’s North MHA Dale Kirby is questioning the status of funding for persons with disabilities from the Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD). Under the federal-provincial LMAPD, people with disabilities are entitled to apply for financial assistance in order to cover the costs of completing their first post-secondary education program.

 “For several months now, I have been hearing that applications for funding have been delayed and that the entire LMAPD program is under review,” said Kirby. “I have written to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills in an effort to get a clear answer about the status of this program, once and for all.”

Kirby has asked the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills whether or not any of the LMAPD program applicants who submitted applications in 2012 have had their funding for post-secondary studies approved for 2013. 

 “There is some indication that very few, if any, of the applicants from last year were able to start their programs this year with support from the LMAPD,” says Kirby. “If the LMAPD program is no longer functioning as it was intended, the minister has a responsibility to make his intentions clear. On the surface, it seems that persons with disabilities who are applying to this program are being given false hope.”

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For more information, please contact:

Dale Kirby, MHA

dalekirby@gov.nl.ca

Tel: 709-729-6921