Season 1, Episode 11

Connect 4 Life and Ontario's Pre-Budget Consultations: Advancing the Agenda

Each year, beginning in December, the Ontario Standing Committee on Economic Affairs and Finance reaches out to people and organizations across the province to gather information to help determine public priorities for the Budget.

On December 17, the Connect 4 Life Team, led by Founder Melanie Taddeo, appeared before the Standing Committee to share our organization’s priorities for Ontarians with disabilities. Melanie talked about our recommendations to increase public awareness about accessibility regulations as well as ways to help encourage private sector employers to tap into the population of Ontarians with disabilities who want to work – but require accommodations to participate and contribute.

Without the full participation of people with disabilities, our economy is simply not operating at its full potential.

Perhaps the most striking recommendation in Melanie’s presentation was her acknowledgement that there is no single or simple solution to the increasing pressures of escalating housing and transportation costs. Melanie urged Committee Members to consider creating a task force that would be given a tight deadline with a mandate to find doable, lasting and meaningful solutions for Ontarians with disabilities, their employers, families and communities.

Keep listening to hear Melanie’s presentation in full.

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