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The Ontario government launched a new partnership offering financial incentive to businesses in the London area, to grow and increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
This program is welcome news for workers with a disability. Unifor’s National Staff Liaison to the Workers with disAbilities Committee, Cindy Payne said, “Every day workers with disability face enormous barriers when seeking a job, this government initiative will provide direct support to ensure workers have a fair shot to be hired.” There is a dire need to establish innovative support programs for local businesses for equity hiring to take place, added Payne.
Financial support is offered to businesses through the new Rate Drop Rebate program. The Rate Drop Rebate program offers discounted rates on financial products, such as loans, to small and medium- sized businesses that hire eligible people (people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and unemployed Indigenous people). The rebate is made possible through funding from Ontario's two-year, $4 million Community Loans Fund which is a partnership between the government of Ontario and leading banks and credit unions.
The new program is part of a strategy for an accessible Ontario by 2025 and will help fulfill a commitment made in the Ontario 2016 Budget promising a provincial employment program for people with disabilities. The Government predicts that the initiative will aid 1,100 workers in finding a job and support up to 500 businesses.
To support workers with a disability Payne says “the government must prioritize removing barriers and create employment opportunities – both are needed, and in fact it’s better for the economy, for workers and for all of Ontario.”
To learn more about the Unifor Workers with DisAbility Committee please visit: www.unifor.org/en/member-services/equality/workers-disability or email Cindy Payne, National Representative at @email.
Information on the Ontario Rate Drop Rebate can be found here.
