Toronto – Employers in Canada recognize that having inclusive businesses and workplaces is a business imperative. A culture of diversity and inclusion is required to attract and retain the best talent, and to foster the growth and vitality of a business. As celebrations for International Day of Persons with Disabilities continue around the world, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera attended the launch of the Canadian Business Disability Network, hosted by Manulife Canada.
The Government of Canada recognizes that creating accessible and inclusive workplaces and ensuring that persons with disabilities are able to fully participate in the labour market is a key component of building a truly inclusive and accessible nation. To that end, in 2022 the Government of Canada presented Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan as a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive of the 27% of persons – or 8 million people – that identify as having a disability in our country.
Under the employment pillar of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, the Disability Inclusion Business Council (DIBC) was formed. This council, created with the aim of addressing workplace barriers faced by persons with disabilities, has diligently worked towards incubating, designing, and now launching an independent, self-governed business disability network.
The Canadian Business Disability Network’s key mission is to empower its member organizations to embrace disability-inclusive best practices that not only enhance their businesses but also contribute positively to their employees and customers. This collaborative effort will bring together industry experts, jointly resourced by member companies, to provide innovative programs and services. These initiatives will support businesses in enhancing the accessibility of their workplaces, as well as the products and services they offer to clients. Moving forward, the collaboration between the network and the disability community will ensure its programs and services fully meet the needs of both businesses and persons with disabilities.
“The launch of the Canadian Business Disability Network is a true testament to the government and Canadians’ commitment to building accessible businesses. I want to congratulate the Disability Inclusion Business Council on the launch of the network which will help Canadian businesses develop and share knowledge that will create more a more accessible economy. In particular, I would like to thank EY Canada, Manulife Canada, TELUS Health, and IBM Canada for their leadership on this important initiative.” – Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera