Ottawa has introduced a new Employment Strategy aimed at closing the employment gap for persons with disabilities by 2040.
This initiative is part of the broader Disability Inclusion Action Plan and was announced by Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, yesterday in Toronto.
The Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities focuses on three primary goals: helping individuals secure and maintain good jobs, assisting employers in creating inclusive workplaces, and increasing support from organizations that promote disability inclusion and accessibility in employment.
Funding going to seven organizations
Khera highlighted the significance of this strategy in her announcement at the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work. She also marked the fifth anniversary of the Accessible Canada Act by announcing $6.5 million in funding through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
This funding will be distributed to seven organizations across Canada that support Indigenous, Black, and racialized Canadians with disabilities, providing them with innovative and culturally relevant training and employment support.
“The Employment Strategy is about fairness. This is a plan with concrete actions aimed at strengthening our economy and communities so that all Canadians, regardless of their abilities, can succeed in the job market,” said Khera. “Through the Opportunities Fund, we are also creating inclusive and accessible workplaces and connecting persons with disabilities with important resources, such as skills training and mentorship.”
More than one-quarter of adult Canadians have disability
Statistics from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability reveal that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older report having a disability that limits their daily activities.
Among those aged 25 to 64, 30.4% are not in the labour force, compared to 15.8% of Canadians without disabilities. These numbers underscore the persistent barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities.
The Employment Strategy aligns with the principles of the Accessible Canada Act and the Government’s commitment to creating a truly inclusive country. The Opportunities Fund aims to increase the participation of working-age persons with disabilities in the workforce by preparing them for employment, supporting career advancement, and promoting self-employment. It also helps employers to build more inclusive and accessible workplaces.
The Government allocated $272.6 million through Budget 2022 to support the implementation of this strategy. A portion of these funds is targeted at smaller organizations, such as the seven announced today, that work with persons with disabilities who also belong to other equity-deserving groups.
Next steps for the Employment Strategy include embedding employment supports for persons with disabilities across federal programs, fostering collaboration with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, and developing indicators in partnership with the disability community to better measure progress towards closing the employment gap.