Letter to the Hon. Helen Johns
Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation

April 24, 2000

 

April 24, 2000

 

The Honourable Helen Johns
Minister of Citizenship,
Culture and Recreation
400 University Avenue, 6th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2R9

 

Dear Minister

I am writing on behalf of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee to request a meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss your Government's plans with respect to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We are making this request on the recommendation of the Premier's office. We hope you will treat this as a matter
of priority.

We are particularly concerned about statements you are quoted as having made in a Toronto Star article on April 22, 2000 about public consultations on the ODA. You are quoted as saying that there will be no public hearings because "Isabel (Bassett) held public meetings. We have that information".

As you are aware, when Minister Bassett held her secret, closed- door invitation-only consultations in 1998, there was a widespread outcry across the province asking for true public, open and accessible consultations. Months later, in your Government's pre- election April 1999 Throne speech, there was a tacit
acknowledgement by your Government of the inadequacies of those consultations and a commitment to do better. We are very concerned that there now appears to be a change in your Government's position.

As you know, we are anxious to see your Government move forward as quickly as possible with a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act. It has now been five years since the Premier made his promise to enact this legislation. Many new barriers impeding people with disabilities have been created during that
time.

We hope that we will be able to get a clear picture from you at our meeting about the Government's plans that will lead towards the enactment of a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act as soon as possible. Please have your office contact me to arrange a meeting time.

Yours sincerely,

 

David Lepofsky, CM,
Chair, Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee

cc: Name: Fax No:
Hon. Mike Harris 325-7578
Norman Sterling 326-2913
Dalton McGuinty 325-9895
Dwight Duncan 325-2201
Steve Peters 325-7262
Howard Hampton 325-8222
David Christopherson 325-7111
Marilyn Churley 325-7111

 

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