Voice of Business: Hiring People With Disabilities Will Benefit Your Business

Approximately one million job seekers experiencing a disability in Canada are unemployed or under-employed.

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) and it’s a good opportunity to reflect on a sizeable segment of our population that is being underserved. Back in 2017, Statistics Canada reported 3.7 million working-age Canadians identified as having a disability, yet only three in five were employed.

While the number of job vacancies has declined over the year from its peak of over 1 million, there is still a gap of hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada that employers are struggling to fill. Employers are eager to hire.

According to the Discover Ability Network, 63 per cent of persons with disabilities do not require accommodations in their workplace. And when they do, the cost or shift in workplace setup is often offset by the productivity of the employed person.

There are more noteworthy statistics:

• 72 per cent higher employee retention rate among people with disabilities

• Businesses hiring people who have a disability experience a 72 per cent increase in productivity

• Inclusive businesses grow profits up to 3x faster than their competitors

• 22 per cent of Canadians have a disability

• Inclusive workplaces are twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets

Hiring people with disabilities not only fills workforce gaps in your business, but will help create a thriving and profitable business with higher retention rates. What’s holding us back?

It turns out one of the biggest barriers is our mindset. An article titled Why Don’t We Hire People With Disabilities? by Angela Kryhul from the Smith School of Business, an affiliate of Queen’s University, gets right to the point. Part of the issue is that we all too often equate disability with an inability to work.

The article highlights three misconceptions:

• Few disabled people are qualified for, or apply to, job posts

• Accommodations are expensive and complicated

• There are negative impacts on productivity and workplace culture

There is a wealth of resources available to employers interested in hiring people with disabilities. The Canadian Association for Supported Employment offers training, resources, and toolkits for employers. The Government of Ontario offers programs, resources, tips and tools. Locally, we have organizations like Heads Up For Inclusion and the Council for Persons with Disabilities offering their expertise and resources working here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Our local employment agencies also offer a wealth of knowledge.

It’s time we get a bit out of our comfort zone, tap into local resources, educate ourselves and our teams, and update our hiring practices to include hiring people with disabilities. It will benefit your business, our communities, and our economy.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Precision Medical Aesthetics, Sullivan Law, Jo Anne's Place and Community Futures Peterborough

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Precision Medical Aesthetics is a nurse practitioner-led clinic offering cosmetic injectable enhancements, laser skin resurfacing and laser hair removal.

They recently launched SKINTHETICS Collective Studios which hosts multiple beauty and wellness businesses offering everything from permanent make-up, eyelash extensions, hair-cuts and styling to counselling and psychotherapy, gel manicures and design, spray tans, and hormone replacement therapy. Check out the Open House this Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 169 Lansdowne St. E., or online at precisionptbo.ca.

The team at Sullivan Law Ptbo reopened last week in their new location at 362 Queen St. in Peterborough.

They also added a new member to the team. Barry Lynn is a lawyer who practices Family Law and brings 13 years of experience to the firm. Sullivanlawptbo.ca

Jo Anne’s Place recently launched the third pillar of their free online wellness program.

Called The Wellness on Purpose Program and lead by their Nutritionist, Marissa Laughlin, the program is a free educational resource designed to offer accessible and accurate wellness information on topics such as Nutrition, Sleep, Stress and Movement. The third pillar focuses on stress, the different types, and how to manage it, and features collaborations with several Peterborough wellness businesses including Sweat Happy Pilates, Salti Yoga, Mental Wealth Counselling, and more.

Community Futures Peterborough has partnered with BDC to bring together professionals from the local business community to discuss business valuation and succession.

They have planned a free breakfast event on Oct.17. at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. The event is intended to provide you with a space to learn more about the steps required to evaluate, buy, sell or transition your business. For details visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Ivy Event Space, AON Inc., Emy’s Cuddles and Peterborough Chamber

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Kristina and Aaron Goodwin recently opened Ivy Event Space at 164 Hunter St.

They emphasize flexibility instead of vendor restrictions, allowing for anything from a family potluck, a corporate workshop, a children’s party or a wedding and giving complete control of the event to their clients. Pricing is based on an hourly rental fee and you can add various options including decor, tables, chairs and more. From a simple party to a sophisticated micro-wedding, check out ivyevents.ca.

Congratulations to everyone at AON Inc. and Kawartha Golf Club on last week’s announcement of the details regarding a much-anticipated project on Clonsilla Avenue.

AON purchased more than 20 acres of land from Kawartha Golf back in 2018 and have been working towards a multi-phase project that will eventually include a new apartment building, seniors’ luxury units and a retirement home. Called AON Fairways, the land has been rezoned and the planning process has begun. For details, visit aonfairways.com.

Emy is a 16-year-old entrepreneur who has channelled her love of animals to start her own business.

Called Emy’s Cuddles & Care Pet Sitting, her service offers in-your-home cat and dog sitting, either overnights or drop-ins and includes replenishing water and food, cat litter, play and cuddle time. And if you are just looking for a dog walker, Emy offers that as well. For details, give her a call at 705-761-4372.

And don’t miss this year’s edition of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Oct. 18 at The Venue and Showplace in Downtown Peterborough.

It’s a chance to network with 500 local business leaders and watch dozens of businesses profiled in over 20 categories including the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year, the four under 40 and the Business Citizen of the Year. Details and tickets are at pkchamber.ca.

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Award-Winning Mac + Cheese Festival Returns to Downtown Peterborough For Third Straight Year For All of October

There are 21 Downtown Peterborough Businesses vying for the title in the third year of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s (DBIA) award-winning Mac + Cheese Festival, running all of October, announced at the Venture North Building on Wednesday morning.

Three mac and cheeses were sampled at the press conference: Heartburn City, Mind Your Carrots & Peas and Lactose Overload. Photo by David Tuan BUi.

The downtown businesses offer their mac and cheese dishes for all of October for take-out or dine-in. Classic macs, adventurous macs, handheld macs and even ‘mac-it-at-home’ options are available for this year’s festival.

The winning business will receive their bragging rights for the year, a hand-crafted trophy, the title of mac-and-cheese champion and a donation to Kawartha Food Share in their name.

New businesses entering the competition include The Vine, The Food Shop, The Pasta Shop and Sam’s Place Weinery.

Anyone can vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes throughout the month and use a Mac Map to locate which businesses are participating.

“We were so beyond proud to be chosen as the top mac of 2022, tying with Capra Toro for the winning prize,” said Amanda da Silva, The El(P) co-owner. “Being a newer business in downtown Peterborough, we’ve had such a blast participating in these foodie festivals. The culinary competition in this city sure is steep.”

The festival website has previous winning recipes and locally curated recipes for home chefs. Recipe cards include a hearty ‘local mac’ that utilizes local ingredients from The Ptbo Food Shop and recipes from previous champions: Sam’s Place and The El (P).

“Our Mac + Cheese Festival has been incredibly successful both locally and provincially and has even gone on to inspire other BIAs in the province to adopt similar events,” said Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director. “We won an award last year for ‘special events and promotions’ at the Ontario Business Improvement Area awards conference and our team is really proud of how these cheesy shenanigans continue to inspire not only local chefs but other cities in Ontario.”

At the press conference, three mac and cheeses were sampled at the event.

• Heartburn City: Pickled jalapenos, hot sauce and crushed Hot Cheetos

• Mind Your Peas & Carrots: Peas, carrots and hot dog slices

• Lactose Overloard (winner): Havarti, mozzarella, marbled cheddar, Tex-Mex and queso

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Voice of Business: Employment Insurance Premium Rates Planned to Increase

The costs of many things have gone up, sometimes dramatically, in the last year or so.

Interest rates, fuel, insurance, and wages are just a few cost increases hitting businesses. Now, Employment Insurance Premium rates are planned to increase.

The EI program is designed to be self-sustaining. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets annual rates based on a seven-year break-even forecast. Increases in unemployment and temporary support programs introduced during the pandemic have led to a forecasted cumulative deficit of $18.8 billion on Dec. 31.

Employers pay 1.4 times the employee rate. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission is recommending employers pay $2.32 per $100 of insurable earnings, up from $2.28. Employees would also see a larger portion of their paycheque go to EI.

In response to this, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has issued a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault.

RE: Potential 2024 Increase in EI Premiums

Dear Ministers,

I’m writing to express our concern about the potential 2024 increase in EI Premiums. EI is a critical program delivered by the federal government. It supports the livelihoods of Canadians and communities during periods of lost income. Temporary program changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic created a significant deficit that according to the 2023 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate led the EI Operating Account to a projected cumulative deficit of $25.2 billion by the end of 2023.

Employers understand that EI is an important temporary job-loss protection program and want to ensure it is effective in supporting their employees during periods of transition. However, increases to EI premiums are effectively a tax on employers who pay a disproportionate amount into the program. Increases to EI premiums must take into account the economic challenges faced by businesses in Canada today, and into the future.

High interest rates, inflation and increased labour costs are making it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to keep their heads above water. Due to continued strength of the labour market, Budget 2023 stated that the EI Premium Rate would hold steady at $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings in 2024-2025. We understand EI premiums are being reviewed, and our view is that any increases would be ill-timed and unsustainable at a period when most businesses are struggling to resume normal business operations. It is not fair for employers and employees to pay off the deficit incurred through temporary program changes through increased premiums. Consequently, EI premium rates should be maintained at current levels.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce represent businesses of all sizes in all sectors and regions of the country, and we would like to emphasize that any proposed changes to EI must balance the need to

support workers while ensuring the program is financially sustainable and promotes a return to the labour force.

Sincerely,

Diana Palmerin-Velasco
Senior Director, Future of Work
Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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City Council Invokes Buyout Clause to Develop Property on Morrow Park; Peterborough Agricultural Society Forced To Move

Peterborough City Council has invoked a buyout clause from the Morrow Park Agreement, forcing the Peterborough Agricultural Society to move from its location to develop on the property, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

File Photo.

The Board of the Peterborough Agricultural Society has issued the following statement:

“With mixed emotions the Board of the Peterborough Agricultural Society would like to inform the public that Peterborough City Council have given notice that they have invoked the buyout clause within the Morrow Park Agreement, asking the Society to move from our long term home at Morrow Park. This is so they can proceed to develop this historical area.

As the directors of the Society, we wish the City and its citizens best of luck with the development of their said lands. We also wish to express our extreme gratitude to the many volunteers and families who have faithfully put countless hours of time and ef ort into this major annual event over the past 180 years. It is our intent at this time to go forward as the Peterborough Agricultural Society and to look for a new home and start a new beginning. Our hopes are to form strong partnerships within the county of Peterborough and continue to promote agricultural education to the general public. Rest assured we are still here. We have a strong board of directors who are dedicated to the task of rebuilding this once strong institution. Please expect that there will be new things to come and opportunities for you, the public, to help.”

The Society has set up an online auction of memorabilia from 175 years of the Peterborough Exhibition. There are 204 items up for bid including furniture, farming equipment, clothing, signs, odds and ends and more. The auction opens on Oct. 10 and ends on Oct. 16.

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Voice of Business: How We Spend Money Matters

Spending nearly $30 billion annually, Ontario’s public sector is the largest buyer in our provincial economy.

When you spend that kind of money, how it’s spent has big implications. Getting the most value out of each dollar spent is not just about who can provide each product and service for the least amount of money.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce recently published a policy brief titled Power of the Purchase Order: Modernizing Public Sector Procurement in Ontario. This brief puts forward the case for smarter spending that will have larger benefits for the people and businesses paying the provincial government’s bills.

Ontario’s public sector is made up of its ministries and agencies and includes institutions like hospitals and school boards. They spend money on everything from pencils to medical technology. This kind of buying power comes with a unique ability to invest in innovation, growing new markets, improving living standards, and economic development. However, it often fails to deliver on these goals.

As stated in the policy brief:

The process tends to lack collaboration, discourage investment, misallocate risk, and prioritize short-term costs over long-term value. Procurement modernization presents a major opportunity to transform health care and other public services, build more resilient supply chains, and create greater social and economic value for Ontarians.

The policy brief makes the case for changes like value-based procurement (VBP), shifting the focus from price to outcomes. Outcomes can include quality, lifecycle costs, sustainability, living standards, and economic development. It emphasizes long-term value over short-term costs.

Power of the Purchase Order lays out the case for both simple and complex purchases. A more expensive laptop can be more cost-effective if it requires less servicing from technicians and lasts longer. The implications are much bigger in complex purchases like pharmaceuticals. Bulk sourcing from a single provider lowers costs. To get these lucrative contracts, manufacturers compete to offer the lowest possible pricing, forcing them to reduce supply to just enough to win the bids. Unfortunately, this has led to shortages of critical medication.

The Province announced the creation of Supply Ontario back in 2020. This Crown agency has a mandate to modernize public procurement for the Province.

The policy brief contains 23 recommendations to create better outcomes for public sector spending and does so with a focus on innovation, attracting investment, and health care procurement:

Rethinking Procurement

Procurement in the public sector covers a wide range of goods and services – from office supplies to infrastructure, engineering services, and health care technologies.

For basic commodities, the process is simple. The buyer can easily describe what it is looking for through a request for proposal (RFP) and select a vendor that will best meet its needs. In these cases, it makes sense to prioritize cost-efficiencies and look for economies of scale.

In contrast, procurement of complex goods and services requires a more sophisticated process, one that is more oriented towards long-term value and collaborative problem-solving.

Attracting Investment

Ontario’s current approach to procurement can inadvertently discourage businesses from even attempting to bid, which leads to less competition and less favourable outcomes. There are several practical steps that can be taken to attract investment in Ontario’s supply chains, and encourage more participation from small, local, diverse, and green businesses. Increased competition for bids leads to a more diversified supply chain and better value.

Innovating Health Care

Health care procurement is not only significant from a budgetary perspective, but also for its impacts on patient and population outcomes. Medical devices, drugs, support services, and innovative solutions are complex purchases that provide long-term value to the health care system, its practitioners, and its users. Driving greater value within Ontario’s health care system requires spending wisely, which may not necessarily require spending more.

It is encouraging to see all levels of government take a renewed look at their procurement process. The City of Peterborough is undergoing a hard look at social procurement with the goal of leveraging existing procurement activities to achieve positive social value objectives that align with the City's strategic goals and plan. Governments are big spenders and it’s critical that we take a good look at how the money is spent to get the best value long term.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Goodbye Graffiti, Take Cover Books, Kate L. Toms Fit and Nish Tees

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Goodbye Graffiti was recently launched here in Peterborough by franchisees Ryan Grant and Claralana Langmann.

It was started in Vancouver 26 years ago by Peterborough’s Perri Domm and now has offices across Canada. Services include graffiti removal, power washing, anti-graffiti coating and specialty services such as EverSafe, a needle removal service. The company also offers free removal of any racial or hate graffiti and have done this over 25,000 times across Canada. Reach them at goodbyegraffiti.com or call toll-free 1-877-684-4747.

Stu Harrison mentioned Take Cover Books a couple of months ago, brothers Andrew and Sean Fitzpatrick’s online bookstore.

The brothers recently opened their own brick-and-mortar store in East City. Located at 59 Hunter St. E., Take Cover Books offers everything from retail sales to book and film clubs, book signings, readings and launches and Saturday morning readings for kids. They are also encouraging the use of the space for community events, artist exhibits and more. Stop in, seven days a week or visit takecoverbooks.ca or Facebook or Instagram.

Kate Adams has been working towards the opening of her own fitness studio for some time and her dream will finally come to fruition on Oct. 7, when she celebrates the grand opening of Kate L. Toms Fit.

Adams is a certified personal trainer, certified fitness instructor and transformation coach and will be offering both in-person and virtual programs, group fitness, small group personal training and one-on-one personal training. Located at 1-724 Erskine Ave. in Peterborough, save the opening date, Oct. 7 from noon to 3.

Nish Tees is a Peterborough/Nogojiwanong-based screen printing and design business owned by Indigenous entrepreneur James Hodgson.

With over 20 years of print experience, Hodgson recently opened his own retail shop at 219 Hunter St. W. called Fresh Prints. The shop is billed as a micro gallery featuring the collaborative work of local artists and Nish Tees. They’ll be launching new artists monthly at Peterborough’s popular 1st Friday Art Crawl.

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