Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. (“Canso”) is committed to excellence in serving all our clients including those clients with disabilities. Canso will make every reasonable effort to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from our services and facilities in a manner that respects their dignity and independence. We will work closely with individuals to assess their needs, individuals with disabilities may use assistive devices, service animals and support persons, as necessary.
Assistive Devices
We will ensure that Canso staff is trained and familiar with any assistive devices we may have on site.
Communication
We will communicate with all Canso clients with disabilities in ways that consider their disability.
Service Animals
We welcome Canso clients with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed in our office and office building.
Support Persons
A Canso client with a disability who is accompanied by a support person is allowed to have that support person accompany them on our premises.
Notice of Temporary Disruption
As Canso clients visit our premises by appointment only, any disruption or closure to our office would be communicated directly to any/all clients affected by such disruption/closure.
Training
Canso will provide training to all staff on providing excellent service to clients with disabilities. This training will be completed within 3 months of the employee’s hire date. This training will include:
- An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard.
- Canso’s plan related to the customer service standard.
- How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
- How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person.
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our office/premises.
Staff will also be trained when any changes are made to the Canso Accessible Client Service Policy.
Accessibility Plan
This Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines the steps Canso has and will put in place to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities and to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”).
Barrier Assessment
In accordance with the AODA and Canso’s goal of providing an inclusive workplace, this Multi-Year Accessibility Plan commits to eliminate and prevent barriers to accessibility. Typical barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities include attitudinal, information and communication, technological, systemic, and physical and architectural barriers.
Employment Practices
Canso strives to meet the requirements of the AODA by ensuring an inclusive, barrier-free, accessible workplace that enables each employee to contribute and perform to their full potential on a daily basis.
Canso is committed to ensuring an inclusive, barrier-free, accessible recruitment process so that all individuals with disabilities who are interested in pursuing and who apply for employment with Canso are made aware of the accommodation measures available to them throughout the recruitment and hiring process, as well as during employment.
Canso will use reasonable efforts to accommodate individuals returning to work after being absent due to a disability. If other accessibility barriers are identified, Canso will seek to prevent and remove them in a way that is reasonable and practicable.
Training
Canso recognizes that it’s employees are an important resource in helping ensure a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone and will provide training to all employees on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the roles and responsibilities of Canso’s employees.
Canso will ensure employees are provided with training to meet the requirements as required by the Customer Service Standard and Integrated Accessibility Standards.
Accessible Emergency Information
Canso is committed to providing its employees and clients with publicly available emergency information, in an accessible way, upon request. Canso will also provide disabled employees with individualized emergency response information when necessary.
Information and Communications
Canso will communicate on an ongoing basis, both internally and externally, our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
Canso will also solicit and respond to feedback with respect to our accessibility policies, practices, and procedures.
Canso will ensure our website and content published after January 1, 2021 conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, except where meeting the requirement is not practicable.
Canso has reported its compliance with the AODA, we will continue to report, as required, on our compliance with the Act and the specific accessibility standards.
Built Environment
Canso has endeavoured to remove barriers to accessibility within its leased premises.
Canso will comply with the requirements of the Design of Public Spaces Standard and will incorporate any changes to the built environment required under the Building Code Act, 1992.
Service Disruptions
In the event of a service disruption, Canso will notify the public of the disruption in service and available alternatives.
Feedback Process and For More Information
Canso is committed to accessibility and we welcome your feedback. If you wish to provide feedback or would like more information on the way Canso provides services to people with disabilities, please email (clientservice@cansofunds.com) or call Canso directly at 905-881-8853. All feedback will be directed to both the Client Service team and the Vice President, Finance and Corporate Operations for their information and follow-up if required.