Accessibility

Statement of Commitment:

Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. (“Canso”, “our”, “we”) is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any individual who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. All services shall follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.

Purpose:

This policy is intended to provide the overarching framework to guide the review and development of other Canso policies and procedures, to comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code (“the Code”) and the Regulation 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards (“IASR”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”) standards, which were established to identify, remove and prevent barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Our 2025-2030 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan is intended to prevent and reduce barriers for people with disabilities and meet the requirements of the AODA and related regulations.

Definitions:

  1. Accessibility: Accessibility refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people who experience disabilities. Ontario has laws to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including the AODA, the IASR, and the Code.
  2. Disability: The AODA uses the Code’s definition of “disability”, which is:
    • any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device
    • a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability
    • a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language
    • a mental disorder, or
    • an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
  3. Guide Dog: a dog trained as a guide and having the qualifications prescribed by the Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act.
  4. Service Animal: an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability
    • if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or
    • if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
  5. Support Person: a person with a disability to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods or services.

Availability of Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

The following accessibility standards are currently applicable to Canso:

  1. Information and Communication Standard
  2. Employment Standard
  3. Customer Service Standard

I. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION STANDARD

Upon request, Canso will create and provide accessible formats and communications supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account their accessibility needs. Canso will work with the individual requesting information to find out what format will work best for them.

The requirement to provide accessible information applies to:

  1. emergency and public safety information
  2. feedback processes for employees and the public
  3. information for employees
  4. other public information, such as menus, order forms and information provided to the public in print, on websites or handheld devices.

Canso will ensure the Canso website and web content conform with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.

Implementation Timeframe: January 1, 2016 and ongoing.

II. EMPLOYMENT STANDARD

Canso is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities in our recruitment processes. Canso will consult with the applicant to arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

Steps Taken:

  1. Making the recruitment process accessible
  2. Informing staff of accessibility supports
  3. Offering accessible formats and communication supports for staff with disability
  4. Providing individualized accessible workplace emergency response information
  5. Considering the needs of staff with disabilities in Canso’s performance management, career development and re-deployment processes

Canso will ensure to:

  1. Develop and document individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities, including how the employee can participate in developing the plan.
  2. Provide individualized workplace emergency response information when necessary for the safety of employees with disabilities.
  3. Provide a return-to-work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations. However, if the injury or illness is covered by other laws, the AODA does not apply.

Implementation Timeframe: January 1, 2016 and ongoing.

III. CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARD

Our Commitment

Canso is committed to treating clients with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence and to ensure that every client receives equitable treatment, without discrimination, and receives accommodation where required.

Assistive Devices

We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use, or benefit from our goods, services or facilities. We will ensure that Canso staff are trained and familiar with any assistive devices we may have on site.

Implementation Timeframe: Effective immediately and ongoing.

Communication

We will communicate with all Canso clients with disabilities in ways that takes into account a person’s accessibility needs. Upon request, we will arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Our Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Plan will be provided in an accessible format upon request.

Canso will ensure the Canso website and web content conform with WCAG 2.0, Level AA.

Implementation Timeframe: January 1, 2021 and ongoing.

Service Animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals on our premises. A person with disabilities is permitted to keep their service animal with them at all times.

Implementation Timeframe: Effective immediately and ongoing.

Support Persons

We welcome people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person on our premises. Canso will ensure a person with disabilities is not prevented from having access to the support person while on premises.

Implementation Timeframe: Effective immediately and ongoing.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

As Canso clients visit our premises by appointment only, any disruption or closure to our office will be communicated directly to any/all clients affected by such disruption/closure. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services if available.

Implementation Timeframe: Effective immediately and ongoing.

Training

Canso will provide training to all employees, volunteers, and other staff members on the AODA, the IASR, and the Code as it relates to people with disabilities. This training will be completed within 3 months of the employee’s hire date and on an ongoing basis with respect to any changes to the policy. This training will include:

  1. An overview of the AODA and the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the IASR.
  2. Canso’s plan related to the customer service standard.
  3. How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
  4. How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person.
  5. How to use equipment or devices available on our premises or otherwise provided by Canso that may help a person with a disability.
  6. What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our office/premises.

Canso will maintain a record of training, including the dates on which training was provided and the number of individuals who attended the training. Our training policy is available on request.

Implementation Timeframe: Effective immediately and on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies.

Feedback Process

Feedback on the way that Canso provides services to people with disabilities can be made by email pc@cansofunds.com. All feedback will be directed to the Vice President of Human and Corporate Capital for their information and follow-up if required. Canso will arrange for accessible formats and communication supports with respect to our feedback process.

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