Strategy needed to drop barriers to employment

There are approximately 2.6 million Ontarians living with a disability. And yet, this election promises little change for a group that lives disproportionately below the poverty line.

Of all the major political parties that have released a platform so far, none of them have presented a plan that would remove employment barriers for people with disabilities. Instead, skilled and qualified candidates are ready to work, but are being trapped in woeful social assistance programs — all the while Ontario is facing significant labour shortages.

The Liberals, NDP and the Progressive Conservatives have all committed to raising social assistance, namely Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates. The Liberals and NDP have proposed raising rates 20 per cent, and the Progressive Conservatives have promised to raise rates five per cent, all indexed to inflation.

Today, a recipient on ODSP receives a maximum of $1,169 a month. Even with the proposed commitments, ODSP recipients still don’t come close to the $2,000 a month that Canadians received from the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit.

While the federal government deemed $2,000 a month to be the bare minimum a person would need to keep the lights on and food on the table during a global pandemic, our provincial politicians have curiously and collectively decided that people with disabilities can survive on much less than that.

Social assistance programs, like ODSP, are critical methods of providing income to Ontarians with disabilities, but their approach has become antiquated and difficult to navigate.

Social assistance should be a trampoline, not a safety net that entangles our community members into poverty. People with disabilities, like sight loss, can and want to work, but barriers remain in their way. Leadership is urgently needed by our elected officials to help change and improve society’s stigmas and expectations, and create the environment for Ontarians with disabilities to seamlessly bounce from social assistance to employment, as needed.

Ontario employers across all sectors are experiencing an acute labour shortage, threatening the province’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Access to skilled, qualified employees to fill these jobs will ensure that businesses can thrive, and local economies can grow. Ensuring that individuals with disabilities, including sight loss, can find and keep meaningful employment will help businesses thrive on the journey to economic recovery, while reducing the need for social assistance.

Political parties must pledge to helping people transition from social assistance to meaningful employment. CNIB urges all parties in the Ontario election to commit to appointing a task force with the mission of developing a multi-ministry strategy aimed at removing barriers to employment facing both employers and individuals with disabilities. This strategy must include adequate funding for programs that are proven to help connect people with disabilities to employment opportunities. And this strategy should empower employers by providing supports that enable access to necessary accommodations, such as assistive devices so employees with disabilities can participate fully in the workplace. This is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses.

A job is so much more than just a paycheque: it’s a means to self-reliance, a source of identity and pride, and a gateway to a brighter future. Thousands of job seekers are ready for work. Let’s give them the opportunity.