ODA Update
May 2, 2002

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE Ontario Government Appoints 5 Members To The Ontario Disability Accessibility Advisory Council May 2, 2002 SUMMARY The Ontario Government circulated a news release late afternoon yesterday. It announced that it has appointed five people to the Ontario Disability Accessibility Advisory Council. In this news release, set out below, the Government names the persons it has selected. We hope that this Council will voice a strong public commitment to the mandatory removal and prevention of barriers against persons with disabilities in all sectors. The ODA Committee looks forward to working together with the new Council on developing strong and effective regulations to remove and prevent barriers against persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors. We encourage this new Council to begin an open consultation process as soon as possible across Ontario with persons with disabilities on what those regulations should include. We also encourage the Council to make its proceedings and deliberations open to all. The ODA Committee is eager to work together with the new Advisory Council, the new Citizenship Minister and the new Premier to help the Government keep the 13 important commitments it made to Ontarians with disabilities last fall. We also urge the Ontario Government to appoint the rest of the Council. The Government has not indicated when it plans to appoint the Council's remaining members. Under the ODA 2001, it was the Ontario Government which selected these Council members. This Council is not selected or elected by the Ontario disability community. The Government did not consult with the ODA Committee on the choice of Council members. By way of some background, on January 31, 2002, the ODA Committee wrote then Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, asking that an open process for selecting the Council be established. We also asked that the disability community have a say into the selection. Minister Jackson wrote us back on February 21, 2002. In his letter, he said this on the Government's criteria for selecting Council members: "For the Advisory Council, this will mean that people with a range of disabilities will be included as the majority of members on the council. Other selection criteria will include such factors as geographic area, age, gender, sectoral representation, and individual skill sets." The government's news release also indicates that the Government is planning for the rest of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 to take effect this fall. At present, the majority of the Act's provisions have not been proclaimed in force. Passed last December, the Government proclaimed in force the power to appoint members to this council last February. We ask the Government to announce details of its timetable for proclaiming in force the ODA 2001's remaining unproclaimed provisions. As always, send your feedback to: oda@odacommittee.net ***** Ministry of Citizenship News Release First appointments made to key Accessibility Advisory Council TORONTO, May 1 /CNW/ - Ontario's drive to achieve full accessibility for persons with disabilities received a major boost today with the announcement of the first five members of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario, a key body that will advise Citizenship Minister Carl DeFaria on improving access, independence and opportunity for people with disabilities. Thunder Bay lawyer and disability rights activist, Dave Shannon, will be the council's first Chair, and Brampton Olympian and Paralympian, Jeff Adams, will be Vice-Chair, said DeFaria. "We are moving forward and keeping our promise to the 1.9 million people in Ontario with disabilities," the Minister said. "The Accessibility Advisory Council will play a critical role in achieving a province where existing barriers are removed and no new ones are created." Three other members were also appointed: Dean La Bute, of Windsor; Barry McMahon, of Ottawa; and Duncan Read, of Ajax. These individuals were selected for their broad range of skills relating to disability matters. Each will bring a strong background of experience and sensitivity to the issues facing Ontarians with disabilities. "I think I speak for everyone when I say how excited we are to be at the forefront of change," said Mr. Shannon. "We look forward to working with the minister to achieve greater accessibility, independence and opportunity for persons with disabilities." The Accessibility Advisory Council was established following the February 2002 proclamation of the landmark 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 persons with disabilities to services provided or funded by the Government of Ontario. Minister DeFaria commended those who had submitted their names to serve on the Council. Further appointments to round out the Council's membership are pending, he said. The minister also noted that implementation of the Act itself is progressing according to plan. "It is not unusual for a complex piece of legislation to be proclaimed in stages," DeFaria said. "We need to put the tools, structures and all necessary supports such as the Council and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario in place first to make sure that obligations are successfully met. We have made great progress and our plan is to have the balance of the Act take effect by this fall." The Minister noted that the Council will be supported by the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, located within the Ministry of Citizenship. The Directorate, which was created by the Act, will work with municipalities, the Ontario Public Service, school boards, public transportation providers, hospitals, colleges and universities as they prepare to start their annual accessibility planning, as required by the Act. The Directorate will also work with standard-setting organizations, the disability community and the private sector on best practices to continually prevent and remove barriers. 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, including $1 billion in new funding announced since 1995. The Act will require municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, public transit organizations, transportation providers, 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. Alternative formats available upon request For additional information: Tel: (416) 325-4957 Toll-Free: 1-888-325-4957 TTY: (416) 326-0148 TTY Toll-Free 1-888-335- Disponible en franJais For more information visit www.gov.on.ca/mczcr <http://www.gov.on.ca/mczcr> -30- For further information: Contacts: Mike Campbell, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7239

 

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Last updated May 18, 2002