Letter to the Hon. Mike Harris
Premier of Ontario

October 5, 2000

 

October 5, 2000

The Honorable Michael Harris
Room 281, Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Harris,

Re: Ontarians with Disabilities Act

We were shocked to learn yesterday about the contents of the secret
Cabinet document which reveals your Government's plans regarding
the promised Ontarians with Disabilities Act. It reveals Government plans
to introduce worthless legislation, and to orchestrate publicity to make it
look good.

Premier, this all indicates to us that you have already decided to
break your 1999 election promise to bring forward new legislation
which is better than the toothless, 3-page Bill 83 which you
withdrew two years ago. It also clearly indicates that you plan
to break your Government's commitment, made on November 23,
1999, to enact an Ontarians with Disabilities Act which is strong and
effective within two years of that date. This further compounds
the cruel fact that you broke your 1995 election promises to enact
the Ontarians with Disabilities Act in your first term, and to work
together with us to develop it.

On October 2, 2000, I wrote you to again request a meeting with you
to discuss the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We have received
no reply to this request. To date, you have steadfastly refused to
meet with us throughout the five and a half years that you have
served as premier.

In light of this latest development, it is absolutely critical that
we meet with you as soon as possible. Because of the urgency of
this situation, would it be possible for you or your office to let
us know by next Tuesday whether you would be agreeable to schedule
a meeting with us?

Sincerely,

David Lepofsky, CM
Chair
Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee

cc: Helen Johns 325-6195
Norman Sterling 326-2913
Dalton McGuinty 325-9895
Dwight Duncan 325-2201
Steve Peters 325-7262
Ernie Parsons 325-4757
Howard Hampton 325-8222
David Christopherson 325-3189
Marilyn Churley 325-3252
Tony Martin 325-7111

 

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