Created for employers, delivered by employers.

The Business Takes Action Advisory Council (BTAAC) is the driving force behind the program that provides Ontario businesses with the necessary tools, guidance, resources and direction to better understand the benefits of hiring Persons with Disabilities.  The membership is divided into 10 geographical regions:

1. Toronto Region - York, GTA
2. Central West Region - Dufferin, Halton, Peel and Wellington
3. Hamilton/Niagara Region - Brantford, Haldimand Norfolk, St Catharines
4. Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge Region
5. South West Region - London
6. Central East Region - Durham, Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough, Simcoe, Kawartha Lakes, York Victoria
7. South East Region - Kingston, Hastings, Prince Edward County, Lanark, Leeds & Grenville
8. Eastern Region Ottawa, Cornwall, Prescott & Renfrew
9. Northern Region - Algoma, Kenora, Manitoulin, Rainy River, Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay
10. North Eastern Region - Cochrane, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Timiskaming

The advisory council is comprised of 3 levels:

CME Chairperson

BTA Representative

10 Regional Chairpersons

This group meets via monthly conference calls to:

1. discuss upcoming regional events
2. solicit members from their regions
3. share best practises
4. identify nominees for annual awards events
5. be a community champion for hiring Persons with Disabilities for both their corporations and within their community
6. create awareness of BTA project

Over the past 2 years, these corporations agreed to the goal of  "10% of new hires will be Persons with Disabilities by the year 2020".  Due to the economic reality we are all faced with today, we are encouraging any employer to hire Persons with Disabilities rather than focus on the 10% goal.

Business Takes Action is attempting to work with all employers, business associations and like-minded stakeholders to:

• raise awareness of the value of hiring Persons with Disabilities
• sharing best practices and case studies
• assisting in accessing human resource policies and procedures
• offer solutions in areas regarding legal compliance, workplace diversity and skills shortages
• recognize employer's achievements at annual awards ceremony.

In return, BTAAC provides insight into the needs and concerns of the business community to spearhead the direction and development of the project.  Today we are looking for one chairperson from each region to be part of a steering committe to work collectively with other regional members.

To learn more about BTAAC and how you get involved, please contact us at business.takesaction@cme-mec.ca or contact Elaine Austin at 905-672-3466 x3227.