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AODA Accessibility

This policy and plan formalizes the commitment of Markel Canada Limited (the “Company”) to accessibility, and outlines those steps that the Company will take, and has taken, to remove barriers and improve opportunities for people with disabilities through compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (the “Integrated Standard”).

Statement of Commitment:


The Company is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. The Company believes in integration and equal opportunity, is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting the accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Policy and Plan:


General


  • The Company provides training on the requirements of the Integrated Standard and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.

  • The Company has taken, and will continue to take, the following steps to ensure that training is provided to all of our employees, interns, agents, volunteers and those persons who develop our policies or provide goods, services or facilities on our behalf:

    • developed and consolidated training materials that address the requirements of the Integrated Standard, including information about achieving accessibility and on the disability-related regulations obligations under the Human Rights Code;
    • reviewed the duties of those individuals that require training, and tailored the training to be appropriate for such duties;
    • delivered the training via a method that is appropriate for the audience and the needs of the Company;
    • keeping a record detailing those employees that were trained and when; and
    • ensuring that new employees are trained as soon as practicable after being hired and when the Company’s accessibility policies change.

  • At this time, the Company does not utilize kiosks. However, should the use of kiosks become a part of the Company’s business in the future, we will ensure that our employees consider the needs of people with disabilities when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks.

Information and Communication


The Company is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities.

  • The Company has ensured that our existing processes for receiving and responding to feedback are accessible to people with disabilities upon request by:

    • providing multiple methods for feedback, such as in writing or via email, telephone or in person; and
    • considering and implementing those accessible formats or communication supports required elsewhere in the Integrated Standard.

  • The Company ensures that, upon request, we will provide or arrange for the provision of publicly available information that is in respect of our goods, services or facilities in an accessible format and at a cost that is not more than that charged to others by:

    • consulting with the person making the request to determine the most appropriate accessible format or communication support, given the needs of the person, whether the content is convertible and the Company’s capability;
    • providing the accessible format or communication support in a timely manner and at no additional cost; and
    • notifying the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

  • The Company has enacted a process to provide its customers and clients with publicly available emergency procedures, plans or public safety information in an accessible way, as soon as practicable upon request.

  • The Company is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities, and has ensured that all required websites and web content conform with WCAG 2.0, Level AA to the extent required.

Employment


  • The Company is committed to fair and accessible employment practices, and will:

    • notify the public and our staff that we will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment process, either through our website, via a recruiter or the applicable job posting, as applicable;
    • notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be utilized;
    • consult with job applicants who request accommodation to support them through the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process and take into account their needs, so that the accommodations provided are effective; and
    • notify the successful applicant of the Company’s policies for accommodating our employees with disabilities.

  • The Company will inform employees of the policies used to support employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability, by:

    • consulting with our employees with disabilities to determine those accessible formats or communication supports that may be of assistance, and how such accommodation may be provided; and
    • providing the information as soon as practicable after commencement of employment, and updates whenever there is a change to the policies.

  • The Company provides individualized workplace emergency response information to our employees with disabilities, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and the Company is aware of the need for accommodation.

  • The Company has implemented a process for the creation of individual accommodation plans for those employees that have been absent from work due to a disability. This process:

    • considers how employees with disabilities will participate in the development of their accommodation plan and what the plans may include;
    • establishes where the plans will be stored and what steps will be taken to protect the privacy of employee information; and
    • determines when and how the individual accommodation plans will be reviewed and updated.

  • The Company has implemented a documented return to work process for those employees that have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodation in order to return to work. This process outlines the steps that the Company will take to facilitate the return to work of the applicable employees and the use of individual documented accommodation plans.

  • The Company takes into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities (as well as their individual accommodation plans) when implementing its performance management process, by:

    • reviewing an individual’s accommodation plan to understand their needs and determine whether it should be adjusted to improve job performance;
    • providing performance-management related documents in accessible formats; and
    • providing informal and formal coaching and feedback in a manner that takes in account an employee’s disability.

  • The Company will take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities (as well as their individual accommodation plans) when providing career development, advancement, or redeployment. This may occur through the consideration of what accommodations employees with disabilities may need to succeed elsewhere within our organization, to take on new responsibilities in a current role, or when redeployment has become necessary.

Design of Public Spaces


At the present time, the Company does not plan on developing or redeveloping any of its public spaces, as defined in the Design of Public Spaces Standard. However, should it choose to do so, this policy and plan will be revised to include the requirements thereunder and how we will achieve compliance.

Going Forward


The Company will consider accessibility in all aspects of its business and operations, and will endeavour to identify and remove accessibility barriers going forward.

For More Information


For more information on this accessibility policy and plan or to obtain accessible formats of this document (which are complimentary), please contact: Human Resources at:

Telephone: 416.601.1133
Email: dlhrbpmint@markelintl.com

Purpose


Markel Canada Limited (the “Company”) is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for its customers, and to providing our goods and services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. The objective of this policy is to ensure that the Company is compliant with the customer service requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”).

Application


This policy applies to all persons who interact with the public, other organizations or third parties on behalf of the Company. This includes employees, volunteers, agents, contractors and third parties (hereafter referred to as “Associates”).

Our Commitment


The Company strives at all times to provide its goods, service and facilities in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.

Principles


The Company will ensure that this policy and any related practices or procedures are consistent with the following core principles:

  1. Dignity: people with disabilities should be treated as valued customers who are as deserving of effective and full service as other customers.

  2. Independence: goods, services and facilities must be provided without the control or influence of others, and the freedom of people with disabilities to make their own decisions must be respected.

  3. Integration: people with disabilities must be able to benefit from facilities, services or products in the same place and the same or similar manner as other customers, whenever possible.

  4. Equality of Opportunity: people with disabilities must be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from facilities, goods and services.

Providing Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities


The Company is committed to excellence in serving all of its customers, including those with disabilities, and will do so in the following ways:

Communication


We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. The Company currently employs the following mediums of accessible communication: websites and TTY. Associates will be trained on how to utilize the methods of communication set out above, and on how they can best interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.

Assistive Devices


Associates will be trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by our customers with disabilities while accessing our goods and services. We will also ensure that Associates are trained and familiar with the following assistive devices that are available on our premises for our customers: accessible washrooms and alternate document formats.

Use of Service Animals or Support Persons


People with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal are welcome on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties, unless the service animal is otherwise excluded by law. If a service animal is excluded, we will explain to the customer why exclusion is necessary, and explore alternative measures of accommodation. If it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, we may ask the person with a disability for a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to his or her disability. Every attempt will be made to ensure that any offsite event venues are compliant with the Company’s commitment regarding service animals.

People with disabilities that require a support person are allowed to enter our premises or offsite event venues, and at no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises or premises used by the Company for event purposes.

We will ensure that Associates are trained to be able to appropriately interact with people with disabilities that are accompanied by service animals or support persons.

Notice of Temporary Disruption


We will notify our customers if there is a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will be posted at the entrance of the applicable premises and website. The notice will include the following information:

  • the facility or service that is unavailable;
  • the reason for the disruption;
  • the anticipated duration of the disruption; and
  • alternative facilities or services, if available.

Training and Record Keeping


We will ensure that all Associates, and all those who are involved in the development of the Company’s policies, practices and procedures, are trained.

The training will be provided as soon as possible after hiring or engagement, on commencement of new or additional duties that require training, and on an ongoing basis when changes are made to the applicable policy, practices or procedures. Training will include the following:

  • a review of the purpose of the AODA and the requirements of the Customer Standard;
  • a review of this policy;
  • how to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities;
  • how to interact with persons with a disability who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person;
  • how to use assistive devices provided by the Company; and
  • how to assist a person with a disability that is experiencing difficulty accessing the Company’s premises, goods or services.

The Company will ensure that accurate and up-to-date training records are kept. These records shall include the dates of the training, and the number of individuals to whom the training was provided.

Feedback Process


We welcome feedback from the public regarding this policy and its implementation. Feedback regarding the way the Company provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made:

  • In person: By appointment at 200 Wellington Street West, Suite 800, Toronto Ontario, M5V 3C7.
  • By telephone: at 416.601.1133
  • In writing: to the Human Resources Department at the address above
  • Electronically: to dlhrbpmint@markelintl.com

All feedback will be directed to the Human Resources department and those providing feedback can expect to receive a response within fourteen (14) business days.

Documentation


The Company has prepared this document to describe the policies, practices and procedures regarding accessible customer service, with particular reference to: (i) the use of personal assistive devices, as well as those provided by the Company; (ii) entry of service animals and support persons; (iii) the steps that will be taken in connection with a temporary disruption to facilities or services used by people with disabilities; (iv) provision of accessible customer service training; and (v) receiving and responding to feedback regarding the provision of goods and services to people with disabilities.

The Company will make this documentation available to members of the public upon request, and in a format that takes into account a person’s disability, if applicable. Notification of the availability of this documentation will be posted at a conspicuous place at our premises and on our website.

Modifications


We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promotes the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities. Any policy of the Company that does not respect and promote the dignity of people with disabilities will be modified or terminated.

Questions/Clarification


This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. Any questions regarding this policy, or its associated practices or procedures, should be directed to the Human Resources department.