Unleash Employment Potential
You can review our description of this priority here.
These are the three questions that we posed to each party related to this priority issue.
If elected to from the government ...
- How will your party work toward ensuring equity in employment opportunities and outcomes for Manitobans with disabilities within the government and the broader economy?
- How will your party ensure that Manitobans with disabilities are actively and effectively promoted to the business community as valuable contributors to the workforce and economy?
- How will your party work to improve transitions from high school to best prepare students with disabilities for future employment?
Party Responses
Green Party of Manitoba
Green MLAs will ensure equity in employment, promote persons with disabilities as valuable contributors, and improve transitions from high school to improve employment potential by implementing a Basic Income Guarantee, free public transportation for all, including persons with disabilities, and targeting skills training programs.
Our communities need the diverse perspectives and skills sets thriving with a disability creates, in those who have overcome barriers. We would create Peer support programs and a mentoring system both within the Disabilities community and the Business and Social /Community Service employment communities so those with disabilities, who have skills to share, are no longer overlooked, or alone in the search for the right career fit.
Manitoba Liberal Party
Q: How will your party work toward ensuring equity in employment opportunities and outcomes for Manitobans with disabilities within the government and the broader economy?
A: One of our platform commitments is a "Manitoba Works for Good” program – a $150-million job subsidy program, with voluntary participation, that would create a broad range of employment opportunities for people from all walks of life, people with disabilities included.
We are also proposing a Manitoba Business Development Bank for Manitoba Entrepreneurs and Farmers, which would provide equity to entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their business. Access to capital is difficult, and access for people who have been marginalized is yet more difficult. The MBDB would take the challenges facing access to capital into consideration.
Q: How will your party ensure that Manitobans with disabilities are actively and effectively promoted to the business community as valuable contributors to the workforce and economy?
A: We will commit to a public relations campaign telling success stories.
Q: How will your party work to improve transitions from high school to best prepare students with disabilities for future employment?
A: We should be preparing all students for the transition from high school, by working with students and families to prepare a plan for where to go next, and how to get there, including student supports for study, as well as the jobs and training program we mentioned above.
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
Communities are stronger when people with disabilities can improve their quality of life through employment. To ensure equity in employment opportunities and outcomes for Manitobans with disabilities, we will support community-based organizations that provide employment services for persons with disabilities. We will work with the community to offer education and programs to show how hiring skilled, reliable people with disabilities is a valuable and worthwhile opportunity for employers.
To ensure people with disabilities have access to the education and training they need, the Manitoba NDP will ensure schools follow best practices, including: working with families, employers and educators to help students identify their career goals; connecting students with local resources to teach job search skills; providing supports to teach students on-the-job skills; and providing supports as students transition from high school to adulthood.
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
Q: How will your party work toward ensuring equity in employment opportunities and outcomes for Manitobans with disabilities within the government and the broader economy?
A: Our PC team continues to believe it is good business to employ Manitobans with disabilities; research shows accessibility in hiring leads to low absenteeism and turnover, as well as high loyalty and talent levels. We brought in the new accessible employment standard regulation, but we know more needs to be done to call on all employers to have measures, policies and practices to provide reasonable accommodations for both employees and applicants. One way the government can encourage equity in employment is through a campaign that actively highlights the benefits. Another way is by creating an advisory group of employers and advocates who will help unleash the employment potential of Manitobans with disabilities.
Q: How will your party ensure that Manitobans with disabilities are actively and effectively promoted to the business community as valuable contributors to the workforce and economy?
A: The PC Party remains committed to actively and continuously promoting Manitobans with disabilities to the business community as valuable contributors to the workforce and economy, and will launch a robust public awareness campaign within 180 days if re-elected to highlight the benefits of employment equity.
Q: How will your party work to improve transitions from high school to best prepare students with disabilities for future employment?
A: A re-elected PC government would work to improve transitions from high school to best prepare students with disabilities for future employment by silo-busting and working across departments and with educational and economic stakeholders to best equip the K-12 and postsecondary system for this important goal. We will also pilot the Improving Quality of LIfe Employment Project for CLDS participants aged 18-20, to enable access to employment services before reaching the age of 21.