Action Required to Eliminate the Inclusion Gap

(Toronto – December 2, 2022) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement to mark tomorrow’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities:

“This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we call for further public-private collaboration to overcome the inclusion gap. Disability inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do; it promotes innovation and contributes to a better bottom line. Inclusive organizations are more likely to outperform their peers, twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes.

“The Ontario Chamber of Commerce proudly offers various training and resources to help businesses become more inclusive, as well as a job matching service to connect participating organizations to the persons with disabilities talent pool.

“Narrowing the labour market gap for people with disabilities could boost real GDP by roughly $50 billion and add close to 450k net new jobs. When the whole nation is struggling with labour shortages, it is a missed opportunity to exclude such a large segment of Canadians. Policymakers should explore targeted workforce development strategies and integrated work-learning opportunities, as well as supports for disabled entrepreneurs, such as better access to capital or public procurement. Inclusive workplaces matter and we all need to do our part.”

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
michelleeaton@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 261-4594