ODA Committee Update
dated Oct. 25, 2004
posted Nov. 22, 2004

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE ODA Committee Writes Three Parties About The Procedure And Timetable For The Legislature's Debates On Bill 118 The Proposed Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act October 25, 2004 SUMMARY The ODA Committee today wrote to the three Ontario political parties to ask that steps be taken to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully observe and take part in the Legislature's consideration of Bill 118, the proposed Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In a letter to the three parties' house leaders (who are responsible for managing the Legislature's agenda and timetable) set out below, the ODA Committee proposes specific steps to ensure the opportunity for persons with disabilities to observe and take part. For example: * We ask for early notice of when Bill 118 will come forward for Second Reading debates. Back in 2001, despite a similar request, the previous Conservative Government brought their ODA bill, Bill 125, on for Second Reading debate with only one day's notice. This was insufficient time for persons with disabilities to arrange accessible transportation. The Liberals and NDP, both then in opposition, criticised the governing Conservatives for doing this. In our current letter, we suggest that two weeks' notice would be ideal. * We ask that Bill 118 complete Second Reading before the winter break in December, so that the bill can go to a committee of the Legislature for hearings over the winter. We propose January as a possible time for public hearings. * We ask that public hearings be held outside Toronto, that there be sufficient notice of the dates of these hearings, that measures be taken to ensure that the hearings are fully accessible, and that special measures be undertaken to enable persons in small and remote communities to take part. Back in 2001 the previous Conservative Government held rushed hearings while giving persons with disabilities as little as 24 hours notice that they could appear. This prevented some from being able to arrange accessible transportation. Back in 2001, the Conservative Government rushed their ODA bill through the Legislature in under six weeks, after they delayed over six years before introducing their bill. At that time, we said that that barrier-filled process would leave an indelible stain on that legislation. We hope that this time, the Liberal government will arrange with the opposition Conservatives and NDP to use a timetable that allows persons with disabilities to overcome the barriers to participation in the legislative process. It is our hope that this legislation can be fully considered, debated and passed into law by May of 2005. Send us your feedback, including any suggestions for amendments to the Liberal Government's Bill 118, at: oda@odacommittee.net To see the text of Bill 118, visit: http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/index.htm#P6 For a brief history of the 10 year campaign for this legislation, visit: http://www.odacommittee.net/161.html For an explanation of the steps a bill must take to go through the process of being debated and passed into law, visit: http://www.odacommittee.net/news159.html   ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE c/o Marg Thomas 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto ON M4G 3E8 Tel: (Voice direct) 416-480-7686 Fax: 416-480-7014 Voice mail: 416-480-7012 email: oda@odacommittee.net TTY: c/o Susan Main 416 964-0023 ex. 343 Web site: www.odacommittee.net   October 25, 2004 Dwight Duncan, Government House Leader Room 223, Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A4 John Baird, PC House Leader Room 436, Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A8 Peter Kormos, NDP House Leader Room 115, Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A5 Dear Sirs, Re: Bill 118 the Proposed Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act I am writing on behalf of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee concerning the scheduling of Second Reading of Bill 118, the proposed Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and legislative hearings this winter. People with disabilities continue to face many barriers that will be addressed by this legislation. We are therefore anxious that it proceed through the legislative process to hearings, so that the legislation can be passed in the spring. We urge you, as House Leaders for your parties, to do everything possible to ensure that the Bill receives Second Reading before the Legislature rises for the Christmas break so that hearings can be held during the winter break, preferably in January. We are also hoping that you will agree on a process that will accommodate persons with disabilities who want to attend the Second Reading debate. People who rely on paratransit systems face challenges in booking rides on short notice. Therefore, we are asking that the public be informed of the dates of the Second Reading debates as early as possible. Two weeks' notice is ideal.. We also ask that as much notice as possible be given about the dates and locations of legislative hearings. Because arranging accessible transportation is such a problem, we urge you to travel to as many Ontario cities as possible, so that people with disabilities can fully participate. It is also important that the hearings be barrier-free. This includes providing American Sign Language interpreters, real-time captioning, and materials in alternative formats. We also propose that hearings be broadcast on the Ontario Legislature cable channel, and that a special hearing also be held through an internet webcast. This will allow people living in remote and small communities to participate. This could help some people with disabilities with limited incomes, who would not otherwise be able to travel to an out-of-town hearing. This will also help bring these issues to the public. We would welcome the opportunity to assist you in any way to facilitate the thorough and timely consideration of this bill, and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, David Lepofsky, C.M. Chair, Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee cc: The Hon. Dalton McGuinty Dr. Marie Bountrogianni John Tory Howard Hampton Cam Jackson Rosario Marchese

 

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