A/HRC/43/41/Add.2 students with disabilities receiving education in mainstream schools (77 per cent of all students with disabilities). However, simultaneously, the government is investing 20 million Canadian dollars in the creation of at least 150 new segregated classes within regular schools in 2019–2020. 49. Inclusive education requires integrated actions to remove barriers and provide resources at multiple levels, including policy and legislation, educational reforms that address the entire system, teacher training and ensuring that all necessary supports are provided for all children. A national database on the provision of education for students with disabilities across Canada should also be implemented. 50. With regard to post-secondary education, persons with disabilities are less likely than persons without disabilities to graduate from university. Statistics Canada data indicate that almost 80 per cent of persons with disabilities complete high school but that only 19.6 per cent have a university or higher-level degree, compared with 31.4 per cent of Canadians without disabilities.15 To address this situation, in 2019 the federal Government revised the National Student Loan Services Program and introduced new measures specifically for students with disabilities, including the expansion of the eligibility criteria for loans and the increase in the cap for services and equipment from 8,000 to 20,000 Canadian dollars per year. While this is a good example of federal leadership, unless the systemic barriers preventing students with disabilities from accessing inclusive education from kindergarten to university are addressed in law and policy at all levels of government, the new measures will fail to produce all the intended results. E. Work and employment 51. At the federal level, the 1995 Employment Equity Act aims to promote employment equity, including by removing the workplace-related equity barriers faced by women, visible minorities, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. The Act’s jurisdiction is limited to industries that are federally regulated under the Constitution (e.g. railroads, airlines and banks). Some provinces and territories have legislation requiring employers to proactively change their hiring and employment practices to remove barriers faced by persons with disabilities. For example, in Quebec, the Act Respecting Equal Access to Employment in Public Bodies prevents public sector employers from discriminating against employees and potential employees with disabilities. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide for individual accommodations for employees with disabilities. 52. At the time of the Special Rapporteur’s visit, persons with disabilities represented 5.6 per cent of all public servants. In 2018, the federal Government introduced an accessibility strategy that, among other priorities, will lead to hiring 5,000 persons with disabilities into the federal public service and establishing a centralized accommodation fund for public service employees with disabilities. The Government has also established new workforce development agreements with provincial and territorial governments that include specific funding so that persons with disabilities can benefit from skills training and employment support. The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities provides financial support for projects aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment or self-employment. 53. Persons with disabilities face higher levels of unemployment and earn less than Canadians without disabilities. Among persons with disabilities aged 25–64 years, only 59 per cent were employed compared to 80 per cent of persons without disabilities. 16 More than 30 per cent report difficulties in changing jobs or advancing in their careers and at least 40 per cent report feeling stigmatized by their employer. 17 Of the complaints received by the Canadian Human Rights Commission on grounds of disability, three quarters are 15 16 17 10 See www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2015001-eng.htm. See www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2018002-eng.htm. Canadian Human Rights Commission, Roadblocks on the Career Path: Challenges Faced by Persons with Disabilities in Employment, p. 4.