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Progress Report 2023

Published: December 20, 2023

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General

The 3-Year Accessibility Plan (“plan”) introduced by Invest in Canada in December 2022, outlines the organization’s commitments to preventing and removing barriers for persons with disabilities in order to fulfill the unique needs of our employees, clients, job candidates and visitors as well as fulfill the organization’s requirements as outlined in Accessible Canada Act (S.C. 2019, c 10). 

In 2023, Invest in Canada made significant advancements towards a barrier-free environment internal and external stakeholders through the implementation of the commitments outlined in the Plan. Invest in Canada is proud to have fulfilled every 2023 commitment made in the Plan and is excited to continue to showcase our commitment to accessibility in 2024 and beyond.

Feedback process and contact information

Invest in Canada established a process for receiving and addressing feedback regarding the implementation of this Accessibility Plan and barriers experienced by employees and people interacting with the organization. The process is designed to facilitate both anonymous and direct feedback internally and externally.

The designated person to receive feedback at Invest in Canada is the Human Resources Advisor. 

Feedback can be shared through any of the following channels:

  • call the Human Resources Advisor at 613-407-2139
  • email hr-rh@invcanada.ca
  • mail us at:
    Human Resources
    Invest in Canada
    18th floor, 160 Elgin Street
    Ottawa, ON. K2P 2P7
  • submit anonymous feedback using this form

You can also use these channels to request this plan, our progress reports or the feedback process in alternative accessible formats. 

Our context

Invest in Canada is a departmental corporation operating under schedules II and V of the Financial Administration Act. It is a micro-organization consisting of 67 full-time equivalents with an annual operating budget of approximately $34 million. Invest in Canada operates as Canada’s national investment promotion agency and therefore has employees located across the country. The organization recently formalized a hybrid work model with employees working from the office as well as from remote locations. Invest in Canada’s primary clients are global investors therefore many of its programs and services are provided abroad in a variety of languages. 

Invest in Canada has three main results designed to achieve its core responsibility:

  • Canada is promoted as a foreign direct investment destination.
  • Investors are investing or expanding in Canada through the support of Invest in Canada services.
  • Partners have access to services and tools to support their investment attraction efforts.

To achieve these results, Invest in Canada works closely with partners and stakeholders within Canada, including provincial, territorial and municipal governments as well as the Trade Commissioner service abroad.

Our progress: priority areas, commitments and actions 

Priority area 1: Employment

Commitment

Implement and improve human resources practices to remove and prevent barriers in the recruitment, retention and promotion of persons with disabilities.

2023 Actions and progress

Invest in Canada set out to accomplish the following actions in 2023 and has made progress on these items as outlined below: 

  1. Introduce disability management training for Human Resources and managers.

    As part of the introduction to the organization’s formal accommodation process, Invest in Canada leveraged the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), announcing the Addressing Disability Inclusions and Barriers to Accessibility training to all managers and human resources professionals as well a series of videos about the GC Accessibility Passport.

    he organization continues to leverage CSPS Duty to Accommodate training as part of our mandatory training program for all employees.

  2. Proactively recruit persons with disabilities through partnerships with employment organizations and associations for targeted recruitment.

    Partnerships were established with two organizations and will begin to be leveraged during the recruitment process in 2024.

  3. Implement a formal accommodation process using the Government of Canada’s Accessibility Passport and communicate the process during onboarding and via the internal SharePoint page.

    An accommodation process using the GC Accessibility Passport was introduced to all employees via an internal communication and a SharePoint page on the organization’s intranet. The SharePoint resource will continue to be leveraged during the onboarding of new employees.

    It is important to note that Invest in Canada will be launching its first formal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan in January 2024. This initiative will integrate employment-centric elements of the Accessibility Plan into a broader strategy that furthers the experience of all employment equity groups including persons with disabilities.

It is important to note that Invest in Canada will be launching its first formal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan in January 2024. This initiative will integrate employment-centric elements of the Accessibility Plan into a broader strategy that furthers the experience of all employment equity groups including persons with disabilities.

Priority area 2: Built environment 

Commitment

Create barrier-free access to and the use of Invest in Canada’s workplaces. 

2023 Actions and progress

Invest in Canada set out to accomplish the following actions in 2023 and has made progress on these items as outlined below: 

  1. Formalize the equipment standard with options for ergonomic chairs, sit stand desks and monitor configurations that give employees the opportunity to choose the equipment that works best for them, including the option of an ergonomics assessment to help determine suitable equipment.

    An Equipment Standard was introduced to all employees and is shared during the onboarding process. The Standard outlines two standard IT and monitor configurations, as well as options for office chairs and sit-stand desks. This Standard is suited for employees with standard equipment needs and provides alternative avenues to request ergonomics assessments and accommodation plans.

  2. Introduce training for individuals who coordinate meetings to assist them in planning and conducting accessible meetings within built environments.

    In researching options for accessible meeting training, it became clear that limited options exist and therefore, Invest in Canada chose to introduce an Accessible Meeting Toolkit to employees as an alternative. This Toolkit outlines types of barriers and solutions to advance the accessibility of meetings. In reflection, the Toolkit lends well to the organization’s fast-paced environment, where a reference guide as an ongoing tool is better suited, rather than a one-time training.

The organization continues to partner with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) on government-wide changes to office environments. Specific to 2023, Invest in Canada worked closely with PSPC on the design of the organization’s new office space. This initiative will continue throughout 2024 as the organization finalizes the new office space.

Priority area 3: Information and communication technologies (ICT)

Commitment

Make information and communication technology accessible and inclusive for all.

2023 Actions and progress

Invest in Canada set out to accomplish one action in the area of ICT in 2023, to update website to be WCAG 2.1 AA compliant. 

Not only did the organization accomplish this action, Invest in Canada’s website was updated to a further advanced regulation, WCAG 2.2. The organization continues to leverage a third-party website developer for ongoing accessibility audits.

In 2024, Invest in Canada aims to launch awareness campaigns to all employees on the accessible functionality of Office 365 for Windows 11. As part of the Accessible Meeting Toolkit, employees have been made aware of many of these functionalities as solutions to barriers. The Toolkit will act as an introduction to the functionality as the organization aims to introduce further awareness campaigns in 2024.

Priority area 4: Communication, other than ICT

Commitment

Ensure communication from and within the organization can be accessed by all employees and clients.

2023 Actions and progress

Invest in Canada set out to accomplish the following actions in 2023 and has made progress on these items as outlined below:

  1. Ensure documents published under proactive disclosure are accessible.

    In updating Invest in Canada’s website to WCAG 2.1 AA, the documents published under proactive disclosure were made to be accessible.
     

  2. Implement the Style Guide training video as part of employee onboarding and share as a reminder to all employees.

    Invest in Canada introduced its Style Guide which outlines how to use plain and direct language in communication internally and externally. The Guide was made easier to use through the implementation of training videos to all employees and has been integrated into the onboarding process of new employees.
     

  3. Implement an accessibility checklist to ensure in-person all-staff meetings and events are accessible.

    An Accessibility Checklist has been implemented for the Human Resources team to ensure the venues being selected for all-staff meetings have limited barriers and to remove barriers that exist within the presentation and moderation of the meeting.

Priority area 5: Procurement of goods, services and facilities

Commitment

Make the purchasing process accessible by including an accessibility lens. 

2023 Actions and progress 

Invest in Canada did not set any actions under the area of Procurement of goods, services and facilities in 2023, though we look forward to the formal review of procurement processes and platforms in 2024. 

The organization continues to purchase ergonomic chairs and sit stand desks for employees and make ergonomics assessments available as part of the hybrid work program. Our Information Technology team continues to prioritize accessibility when purchasing computer software and hardware. 

Priority area 6: Design and delivery of programs and services 

Commitment

Ensure stakeholders and clients are receiving programs and services that were designed and delivered as accessible as possible. 

2023 Actions and progress 

Invest in Canada did not set any actions under the area of Design and delivery of programs and services in 2023, though we look forward to formally reviewing barriers in our programs and services in 2024. 

Priority area 7: Transportation 

Providing accessible transportation to persons with disabilities, is outside of Invest in Canada’s operational scope and therefore there is no proposed actions for this plan. 

Consultations

As part of the development of the Accessibility Plan, Invest in Canada consulted with employees who self-identified as persons with disabilities. Virtual one-on-one interviews were performed in 2022 to discuss the barriers within every priority area that they may have experienced since beginning their employment with Invest in Canada. 

The initial consultations acted as foundational conversations which were leveraged in the development and implementation of accessibility initiatives throughout 2023. The organization continued open dialogue with employees who self-identified as persons with disabilities, seeking their feedback on our progress, program materials and updated processes.

Participants shared their best advice for communicating expectations to employees to address how tools and resources are expected to be used. Continued consultation highlighted the need for awareness of visible and invisible disabilities, which the organization hopes to address in continued training in 2024. 

Feedback

Though Invest in Canada has continued to consult with employees who self-identify as persons with disabilities, the organization has not received feedback on the Accessibility Plan through any of the feedback methods. 

Glossary

accessibility

The degree to which a product, service, program or environment can be accessed or used by all. (Source: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada)

accommodation

Any change in the work environment that allows a person with functional limitations to do their job. Accommodations can be temporary, periodic or long-term, including:

  • adjusting the physical workspace
  • adapting the equipment or tools
  • working flexible hours or job-sharing
  • moving the workspace
  • working from home
  • removing or changing some non-essential tasks for others
  • time off for medical appointments

(Source: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada)

assistive or adaptive device/technology

A device, system or equipment designed to help a person do a task. Examples include canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids and personal emergency response systems. They can also be IT-related items such as screen-reading software. (Source: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada)

barrier

Anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation. Barriers can be physical, architectural, technological, attitudinal or based on information or communications. They can also be the result of a policy or practice. (Source: Accessible Canada Act)

disability

Any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary, or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society. (Source: Accessible Canada Act)

Persons with disabilities (PWD)

“Persons who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment and who

(a) consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or

(b) believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment,

and includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.” (Source: Employment Equity Act)

self-identification

Providing employment equity information for statistical purposes. The federal public service uses this information to monitor the progress of employment equity groups and to report on workforce representation. (Source: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada)