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INTRODUCTION
In 1995 Mike Harris
promised to enact the Ontarians with Disabilities Act in his first
term. On November 5, 2001, in its second term, the Conservative Government
introduced Bill 125, the proposed Ontarians with Disabilities Act,
into the Ontario Legislature. That bill was debated in the Legislature
in fall 2001. The Legislature passed it on December 13, 2001. It received
Royal Assent on December 14, 2001. It is now called the Ontarians
with Disabilities Act 2001 (ODA 2001).
During the Legislature's
debates and public discussions around this bill, the Conservative
Government made a series of 13 commitments. These are listed here.
A summary is provided at the end of this document. The Government's
public statements which make each commitment are set out under corresponding
headings in a separate document entitled "Conservative Government
Statements Setting Out Its 13 Commitments to Ontarians with Disabilities."
THE 13 COMMITMENTS
1. ONTARIO
TO BECOME BARRIER-FREE
Ontario will become
a barrier-free province for persons with disabilities, in
which existing barriers are removed and new barriers are prevented
from being
created.
2. ODA 2001
WILL MAKE ONTARIO BARRIER-FREE AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE
A key component
of the Government's strategy to achieve this goal, the ODA 2001
will achieve a barrier-free Ontario as soon as reasonably possible,
and can do
so far sooner than the U.S. will.
3. ONTARIO
TO BECOME CANADA'S MOST INCLUSIVE PROVINCE
Ontario will become
the most inclusive province in Canada.
4. NO NEW BARRIERS
In Ontario, no new barriers will be created against persons with disabilities.
This includes a commitment that tax dollars will not be used to create
new
barriers against persons with disabilities, and Government-funded
capital
expenditures including new infrastructure will meet accessibility
standards.
5. MANDATORY
REGULATIONS WILL COVER ALL SECTORS
Under the ODA
2001, standards will be set. Regulations will be enacted which
impose mandatory requirements. Regulations will cover every sector
in Ontario,
including the private sector. There is a time frame for the private
sector to
act. Regulations will be made over barriers in the private sector
if compliance
is not happening fast enough. The Government is developing regulations
that
could contain enforcement features if necessary.
6. DISABILITY
COMMUNITY IN DRIVER'S SEAT AND SETTING STANDARDS
Ontario's disability
community will be put in the driver's seat, in the
forefront of change, and driving change in the province. The regulations
to be
enacted under the ODA 2001 will be developed by the disability community.
Ontario's disability community will be pivotal in setting the standards
under
the ODA 2001. Ontario's disability community will help to set the
guidelines,
the mandatory terms of reference, and the time frames for completion
of
accessibility plans to be implemented under the ODA 2001. Ontario's
disability
community will decide when Ontario's cities will become fully accessible.
7. ONTARIO
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL'S ROLE
The new Ontario
Accessibility Advisory Council will decide the point in time
when it will be "reasonably possible" for Ontario to become
a barrier-free
province. The Ontario Advisory Council will drive the reforms in Ontario
including working on regulations, examining and developing mandatory
plans for
the private sector and driving the work on developing enforcement
mechanisms
under the ODA 2001 necessary to ensure compliance. The Ontario Advisory
Council
and local municipal Advisory Committees will be accessible to the
disability
community. The Government will be open to their advice. The ODA 2001
contains a
mechanism for persons with disabilities to tell the Government what
barriers
they face, and when and how they should be removed.
8. SPECIFIC
ACTIONS BY ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
The ODA 2001 includes
mandatory requirements which will be monitored and
enforced. The Government will force compliance with the ODA 2001,
based on
guidelines and accessibility plans that will be made public for every
sector,
and based on time frames. Transit providers will be required not only
to make
accessibility plans, but also to comply with them. The Government
will take on
a leadership role and set a high standard. Its new Accessibility Directorate
will undertake several specific actions to promote accessibility,
including
launching a new public education campaign and new barrier-removal
incentive
program. The Government will select specific private sector companies
for
compliance. The Government's November 1, 2001 "Vision Statement,"
committing
Ontario to become a barrier-free province for persons with disabilities,
will
be widely posted in public buildings. The Government has key players
prepared
to swing into action to implement change. The Government will not
rest until it
achieves its vision for persons with disabilities.
9. ONTARIO
GOVERNMENT'S SPECIFIC RESULTS
The Government
will achieve specific accessibility results. The business of
Ontario ministries will be made more accessible to employees and customers
with
disabilities. Services will be reviewed and improved. New guidelines
for
accessibility of government buildings will be developed in conjunction
with
persons with disabilities and others. New construction will be accessible.
Access to public buildings will be considerably improved. Goods and
services
will be more accessible. Access to government information will be
greatly
enhanced. Public awareness of disability issues will be heightened
significantly. Thousands of suppliers throughout Ontario will have
to become
aware of, and consider the accessibility of the goods and services
they
provide, if they wish to sell to the government. The Government itself
should
be in full compliance within five years.
10. MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS' SPECIFIC RESULTS
Specific accessibility
results will occur at the municipal level. These include
significant improvements in community accessibility, higher visibility
and
public awareness of disability issues throughout the community, more
buildings
and other sites (such as parks and recreational facilities) being
accessible,
greater public accountability, and an ongoing and participatory role
in
decision-making for persons with disabilities. No new subdivisions
or
construction will occur without consideration of accessibility features.
Curb
cuts and audible traffic signals and inclusive design will become
more common
features in communities across Ontario. Municipalities will be required
to take
accessibility into account when issuing licenses. More than 160 municipalities
will plan for accessibility as a regular part of doing business. All
Ontario
municipalities covered by the ODA 2001 will be required to meet or
exceed the
standards now achieved in Windsor and Thunder Bay.
11. BROADER
PUBLIC SECTOR SPECIFIC RESULTS
Specific accessibility
results will be achieved in the broader public sector
e.g. schools, hospitals, public transit, and universities. Some 159
hospitals,
25 colleges, 17 universities, and 78 school boards will be developing
and
implementing accessibility plans. These will significantly enhance
access by
persons with disabilities to education, training and services. This
will result
in increased access to schools, colleges, universities and hospitals,
and
better services for persons with disabilities at these institutions.
As a
result of increased accessibility in public transportation, persons
with
disabilities will find it easier to move around their communities
safely. This
will significantly enhance their ability to participate fully in community
life. There will be greater public accountability and heightened public
awareness.
12. PRIVATE
SECTOR SPECIFIC RESULTS
Specific accessibility results will be achieved in the private sector,
including development of flexible, industry-appropriate standards
which
eventually become law, private sector commitment, and partnerships
between
industry and persons with disabilities. Every sector of the community
and the
economy will be engaged in improving accessibility to meet or exceed
its own
sector standards. Opportunities for persons with disabilities will
significantly improve throughout the province as sectors move towards
greater
accessibility. The accessibility bar will move higher as each sector
learns and
benefits from each other. There will be improved access to business
facilities
for those people in Ontario who use motorized scooters, wheelchairs,
walkers
and other assistive devices. Independence of persons with disabilities
will be
enhanced. There will be increased retail job opportunities for persons
with
disabilities and considerable potential for retail businesses to attract
customers with disabilities.
13. MEANINGFUL
DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The ODA 2001 will
make a meaningful difference in the lives of Ontarians with
disabilities.
SUMMARY
These commitments
can be summarized in these general themes:
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