ODA Committee Update
November 18, 2002

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT APPOINTS REST OF ITS PROVINCIAL ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL November 18, 2002 SUMMARY Today the Ontario government announced that it has appointed eight more members to the government-appointed Ontario Accessibility Advisory Council. The ODA Committee has been urging the Ontario Government for months to fill the majority of the Council's seats which have been vacant. Last April, it appointed its first five members to this twelve-member body. Of those, its originally-appointed chair, Mr. David Shannon, stepped down seven months after taking on that post. In the government's announcement, set out below, it replaced Mr. Shannon with Jeff Adams as the chair, elevated existing council member Barry McMahon to the position of vice-chair, and filled the remaining seven vacancies. These appointments took place today, over a year after the Conservative government first introduced the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 into the Legislature, over nine months after it proclaimed in force the power to appoint this council, and over seven months since it appointed the first five members of this twelve-member council. The Ontario government re-created this council in 2001 to advise it on implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001. Such a body had existed in Ontario since the 1970s. However, the Conservative government abolished it in 1995, weeks after it first took office. We congratulate these new appointees. The ODA Committee is eager to work with the provincially-appointed council, and to do whatever we can to help it succeed in our campaign for a barrier-free Ontario. The ODA Committee wrote to the council via its previous chair, Mr. David Shannon, on October 2, 2002, offering our help to the council. We asked what plans the council has for conducting public consultations on the implementation of the ODA 2001, including on developing regulations to implement it. We have not received a response to that letter, nor to our earlier letter to a similar effect dated June 13, 2002. ***** ONTARIO CITIZENSHIP MINISTRY NEWS RELEASE Attention News Editors: Jeff Adams named new Chair of Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario joining eight additional appointees TORONTO, Nov. 18 /CNW/ - Brampton Olympian and Paralympian, Jeff Adams, was named the new Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario (AAC), along with eight additional members appointed today by Citizenship Minister, Carl DeFaria. The AAC plays a critical role in advising the minister on implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001. Minister DeFaria also appointed Barry McMahon, a disability activist from Ottawa, as vice-chair. "I am delighted with the calibre of the individuals who have agreed to participate on the Accessibility Advisory Council," said DeFaria. "Together, they represent a depth of experience in issues affecting people with disabilities, and I know they will make a significant contribution to create a barrier-free province for the 1.9 million people with disabilities." Adams recently made headlines with his September 2002 CN Tower Climb in a specially designed wheelchair billed as 'Step Up to Change'. The event was held to raise awareness about the abilities of people with disabilities and to highlight the barriers that people with disabilities face every day. Adams replaces former Chair Dave Shannon, who has accepted a new full-time position with the federal government and is unable to continue his work with the Council. "It is with great regret that I recently had to accept Dave's resignation," said DeFaria. "As Chair, Dave brought a great deal of enthusiasm and expertise to the Council. I would like to publicly thank him for the work he did in getting the Council off to a good start." Today's appointments include Valerie A. Baker, chief facilitator for V.A. Baker & Associates in Waterloo; André F. Bélanger, a senior executive in charge of finance, human resources, information services and labour relations with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique centre-sud; Kathryn E. Bremner, office manager with the Durham College Student Association; Barbara Fowke, a community worker with the Opening New Doors program in the Waterloo Region; Uzma Khan, a second year Ryerson University student active in campus accessibility; Karen Liberman, consumer survivor and recognized spokesperson on mental health issues; Tracy MacCharles, vice-president of human resources for Manulife Financial; and Kristin Snodden, Coordinator for the Ontario Cultural Society for the Deaf and a Director of the Canadian Hearing Society. Dean La Bute, of Windsor and Duncan Read, of Ajax, were appointed last May. The Accessibility Advisory Council was established following the February 2002 proclamation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001. Under the act, a majority of Council members must be people with disabilities, chosen for their broad range of skills and experience in, and sensitivity to disability issues. The Council will advise the minister on implementing the act and preparing regulations, as well as provide input on programs of public information related to the act and the accessibility for people with disabilities to services provided or funded by the government of Ontario. The Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2001 is Canada's most far-reaching and comprehensive legislation for people with disabilities. It builds on the government's multi-billion dollar commitment to programs and services for people with disabilities. The act requires municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, public transportation organizations, and the Ontario Public Service to develop plans to make their buildings, programs and services more accessible to people with disabilities. It also allows for regulatory codes and standards for the private sector. MEMBERS OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL OF ONTARIO Following are brief biographical sketches of the members of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario, appointed by Minister of Citizenship Carl DeFaria. Jeff Adams, chair, is a two-time Olympian, four-time Paralympian, six-time World Champion and has held numerous World Records. He is a 12-year member of Canada's national wheelchair racing team. When not in training and competition, Adams is also a motivational speaker and corporate efficiencies consultant. Barry McMahon, vice-chair, was for nine years, an executive producer of film and video with Public Works and Government Services Canada. Prior to working with the federal government, he ran his own production company for 12 years, as well as working as a producer/director with companies in Canada and England. Post-polio Syndrome, with its typical symptoms of fatigue, weakness, and pain, caused him to permanently retire in 1996. Valerie A. Baker, chief facilitator for V.A. Baker & Associates, has developed and taught courses in self-development at Conestoga College, and written numerous articles related to disability issues. She has also co-facilitated on oral communication courses to clients with disabilities as well as attendants working with people with disabilities. André F. Bélanger, a senior executive in charge of finance, human resources, information services and labour relations with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, has been active in the Canadian College of Health Services Executives, the Canadian Association of Health Care Human Resource Management, and the Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario. Kathryn E. Bremner, office manager with the Durham College Student Association, has served as chair of both the Words in Whitby writers' festival and Breaking the Barriers Forum on disability issues in Durham Region. She also founded the Whitby & District Sledge Hockey Association to provide opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to play hockey with able-bodied athletes. Barbara Fowke, a community worker with the Opening New Doors program in the Waterloo Region, was a research assistant at the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services, a project that explored strategies for linking people with disabilities with community life. Uzma Khan, a second year Ryerson University student active in campus accessibility, was a member of a Ryerson Student Advisory Committee for Ryerson's Access Centre, and dealt with campus issues related to accessibility, including an accessibility audit at the university. Karen Liberman, consumer survivor and spokesperson on mental health illness, executive director of the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, who has been honoured as a "Health Hero" by Chatelaine magazine for her work in combating the stigma of mental illness in Ontario. Tracy MacCharles, vice-president of human resources for Manulife Financial, has been an active volunteer for numerous charities including the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division Board of Directors, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Big Sister's Association of Ajax-Pickering and the United Way. Kristin Snodden, co-ordinator for the Ontario Cultural Society for the Deaf's ASL and Early Literacy Consultant program, a Director of the Canadian Hearing Society, and Secretary for the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, was a member for GOAL: Ontario Literacy for Deaf People, and a member of the Student Advisory Committee for Accessibility Services at the University of Toronto. The following members were appointed by Minister DeFaria last May: Dean La Bute, has a strong history of advocacy work on disability issues. He is the founding Chairman of the Windsor-Essex Chapter of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, as well as the regional representative for the provincial committee. La Bute also serves with the Windsor Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, and is the founding Chairman of the Health Services Sub-committee. Duncan Read is a deputy judge for the Ontario Small Claims Court, Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He is experienced in dispute resolution. In 2001, he opened the Law Office of Duncan P. Read in Ajax, an office dedicated to representing small business. Read is a former President of the Ontario March of Dimes and has acted in many capacities with that organization. He has an extensive knowledge of disability issues. THE ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2001 The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) was passed on December 14, 2001. A partial proclamation of several sections of the act took place on February 7, 2002 (section 19, establishing the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario and section 20, establishing the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario). The proclamation of these two sections was the essential first step that needed to be taken before the balance of the act could be proclaimed. Proclamation of additional sections on September 30, 2002 brought into law obligations on the part of the government of Ontario, municipalities, public transportation organizations, school boards, hospitals and colleges and universities. Ongoing ODA implementation demonstrates the government's commitment to people with disabilities, reaffirms the seriousness of this commitment and ensures that relevant sectors comply with the legislation by implementing the necessary changes. Key Dates Passage of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 - December 14, 2001 Partial Proclamation - February 7, 2002 Notice to Proclaim posted in Ontario Gazette - July 6, 2002 Further Proclamation - September 30, 2002 Government Internet accessibility - December 31, 2002 Affected Organizations Municipalities Municipalities (10,000 + population) are required to have municipal accessibility advisory committees in place. All municipalities are required to develop annual accessibility plans and make them public within one year of proclamation, i.e. September 30, 2003. Hospitals, school boards, colleges, universities, and public transportation organizations These organizations are required to prepare annual accessibility plans in consultation with people with disabilities and make them public within one year of proclamation. The plans will address the identification, prevention and removal of barriers to people with disabilities in the organizations' by-laws and its policies, programs, practices and services. A resource package is available to provide guidance to those with obligations under the ODA. Disponible en franJais For more information visit: http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility -0- 11/18/2002 For further information: Ginette Whitten-Day, Communications, (416) 314-7389; Mike Campbell, Minister's Office, (416) 325-1891

 

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Last updated November 21, 2002 10:12 am