ODA Committee Update
dated Dec 3, 2003
posted Dec. 4, 2003

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE Liberal Government Announces New Public Consultation on Strengthening the ODA to Begin Early in the New Year December 3, 2003 SUMMARY Ontario's Liberal Government has today issued a news release, set out below, which announces that it will commence a public consultation in the new year on how to strengthen the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001. The Citizenship Minister, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, and her Parliamentary Assistant, Dr. Kuldip Kular will conduct this consultation. No details are yet provided on how this consultation will be conducted. For those interested in a historical perspective, the previous Conservative Government took three years after it took office to announce its first public consultation on the ODA. As we did when the previous Government was in power, we call for this consultation process to be open, accessible, and inclusive. We encourage one and all to take part in this consultation process. Feel free to contact the Citizenship Ministry directly. The contact information is included in the news release below. In the new year, the ODA Committee will circulate some ideas for you to consider raising in this consultation process. We will also pass along any further information that the Government provides to us. As always, we welcome your feedback on this development, and on your priorities for the upcoming consultation process. You can contact us at: oda@odacommittee.net ***** MINISTRY OF CITIZENSHIP NEWS RELEASE McGuinty government outlines steps to improve accessibility on International Day of Disabled Persons TORONTO, Dec. 3 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is delivering positive change to Ontario by holding consultations on strengthening the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) beginning early in the new year, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Marie Bountrogianni announced today, the International Day of Disabled Persons. "Our government will work with Ontarians with disabilities on meaningful and effective legislation that will allow them to fully participate in building a stronger province," Bountrogianni said. "Early stakeholder input will play an important role in identifying areas of the ODA that need to be strengthened or changed." The ODA was passed in December 2001 to improve access and opportunities for people with disabilities. Beginning in January, Minister Bountrogianni, responsible for the ODA, and her parliamentary assistant, Dr. Kuldip Kular, will meet with a diverse range of stakeholders on ways to strengthen the ODA. "We want to hear from all sectors, public and private. We will be seeking their input and their experience because full accessibility benefits all of us," said Bountrogianni. The United Nations proclaimed the International Day of Disabled Persons in 1992 to promote understanding about disability issues and to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of disabled persons in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. Disponible en francais For more information, visit http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship -30- For further information: Contacts: Anne Boody, Minister Office, (416) 325-6207; Tania Denesiuk, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7386

 

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