ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE.
MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
NOVEMBER 18, 1996.
DISABLED ONTARIANS NEED JOBS, NOT ANOTHER TORY INTERNET GIMMICK.
On November 19, at an invitation-only luncheon, Ontario Disability Minister Marilyn Mushinski will unveil the Mushinski Internet Web Site, the Harris government's only recent action to implement their long-promised Equal Opportunity Plan. "There is not a single disabled Ontarian who thinks that the only thing stopping them from getting a job, accessing the TTC, or going to school is the absence until now of this Mushinski Web Site," says David Lepofsky, Co-Chair of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. This latest smoke-and-mirrors gimmick is designed to conceal broken election promises to Ontarians with disabilities.
The list of broken promises keeps growing. The Harris Government now charges user fees for drugs to persons with disabilities. Its contemplated redefinition of the term "disability" could well cut benefits from many needy people with disabilities, violating Harris' 1995 election commitment not to reduce social assistance to them. Harris has ignored his written campaign commitment to work together with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee to develop and pass a new law to remove barriers blocking access to society's mainstream for persons with disabilities. Instead, Premier Harris has refused to meet with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, despite his promise to work with the Committee. He cut Wheel Trans funding, and has cut funding to the Ontario Human Rights Commission in breach of his election promise to increase its funding.
"The Mushinski Web Site may provide entertainment for computer hackers, but it won't create jobs for recently-laid-off disabled public servants and others," said Lepofsky. "Premier Harris promised a new law to remove barriers which impede us, but now all he delivers is this techno-photo-op." The Mushinski Web Site will not address the real suffering which the Government is causing to Ontarians with disabilities.