How Does Ontario’s “Access Talent” Initiative Impact Your Business?

Creating a more supportive, dynamic, and inclusive Ontario is the call to action for many employers as the province released its new Access Talent initiative earlier this summer. However, many employers are wondering exactly what this new strategy is and how it will impact their business.

The strategy includes a non-binding call for employers with more than 20 employees to hire at least one additional person with a disability. As it stands, nearly 1.9 million people in Ontario have a disability, and 16 percent of those are unemployed – more than double those without.

In order to accomplish this, Ontario’s Access Talent initiative is supported by four pillars:

Start Early

Realizing the need to support youth and students with disabilities, the goal is to provide skills development and early work exposure to improve employability.

Engage

In hopes of ending the stigma that surrounds employing people with disabilities, the Ontario government wants to empower, educate and support employers; emphasizing the ease and benefits of hiring a person with a disability.

Integrate

Provide an easy-to-access system for hiring and training that takes into account the needs of both people with disabilities and the business goals of the employer.

Trail Blaze

Solidify Ontario’s place as a leader in supportive, dynamic and inclusive employment.

By working together with employers with more than 20 employees in hiring an additional person with a disability, Ontario hopes to create about 56,000 new jobs for a portion of the population that is twice as likely to be unemployed.

However, this strategy isn’t binding, which begs the question as to why it benefits employers?

The answer is simple – it’s good for business.

“It’s a call for action…because it’s good business,” said Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Accessibility, in an interview. “We want to challenge employers to work through any barriers they have, whether it is how to find people with disabilities or systemic barriers they have, and tap into that untapped labour pool.”

Hiring new employees can be a stressful experience, whether it’s figuring what to ask in the interview, or where to source the best candidates. And it is for this reason that the most successful businesses will leave the hiring to a recruiter who can not only source the best talent but can navigate all employment guidelines and laws so you can focus on what you do best – your business.

The goal of any business is to grow and prosper, but in order to do that, you need the right workforce. By adhering to these new guidelines and partnering with a seasoned staffing solutions provider, not only will your talent pool have grown wider, but your search for the right employee has never been easier.

If you are looking for HR and staffing solutions in Ontario, contact Employment Professionals Canada. As the area’s premier workforce solutions partner, we have the experience and track record to help you meet your needs. Contact us today to get started!