Addressing these barriers / issues will become increasingly important over the next 13 years because the Conference Board of Canada estimates that the accessibility challenged population in Canada will grow by 1.8 per cent annually during this time period, which is nearly double the pace of projected growth for the total population (0.9% annually). As a result of this projected growth, it is estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians will report having a Disability or being a Senior by 2030 (20% of general population).
Quite often improvements in accessibility is are generally viewed with through a social lens in terms of being implemented because it is “the right thing to do”, however the Conference Board of Canada recently published a study to quantify the economic impact on labour force participation and consumer spending.
The highlights of the Conference Board of Canada study on accessibility are as follows:
I. Accessibility Challenged Canadians represents 14% of the total consumer market and $165 Billion in Spending.
II. Assuming higher incomes due to better access to employment and rising proportion of Canadians with a disability, spending power rises substantially by 2030 (at 3X the pace of overall population).
III. By 2030, spending could nearly rise to nearly $316 Billion Annually (in 2017 $), and account for 21 per cent of the total consumer market.
IV. Employers would benefit from access to a larger talent pool, as 550,000+ Canadians would be fully engaged in the workforce through 2030.
The overall economy stands to benefit as nearly $16.8 Billion would be added to Canada’s GDP by 2030.
By creating a more accessible Calgary, it will not only help create vibrant and inclusive communities across the City, but also create economic opportunities for individuals and businesses within diverse industries.
