ODA Committee Update
dated Sept. 14, 2004
posted Oct. 11, 2004

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE Ontario Citizenship Minister Re-Affirms Commitment To Introduce New ODA Bill This Fall September 14, 2004 SUMMARY At the highly successful Saturday, September 11, 2004 public forum convened by the ODA Committee's London Region in memory of passionate ODA supporter Michael Lewis, history was made. For the first time since the ODA Committee was founded almost 10 years ago, a provincial Citizenship Minister attended an ODA Committee forum, and spoke out in support of a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act. As keynote speaker at the Michael Lewis memorial forum, Liberal Citizenship Minister Dr. Marie Bountrogianni made a compelling presentation, in which she re-affirmed her Government's commitment to introduce a new ODA bill into the Legislature this fall. The text of her speech is set out below. The London forum was wonderful. In attendance were persons with disabilities, provincial and municipal elected politicians, provincial and municipal public servants, members of municipal accessibility advisory committees, academics and others interested in the ODA issue. This timely conference canvassed a wide range of different options for what a strong and effective ODA could include. In addition to the citizenship Minister, the provincial Labour Minister Chris Bentley attended, to formally introduce the Minister. He also gave a strong endorsement of the need for the ODA to be strengthened. Also in attendance at this conference was an official from Premier McGuinty's office. Those who have been active in the ODA cause for several years saw this positive message as a striking contrast from the ODA Committee's experience from 1995 to 2003 under the previous Government. That Government's five successive citizenship Ministers each refused every invitation from the ODA Committee to attend and address the many public forums held around the province over those years. Send us your feedback. Write to us at: oda@odacommittee.net ***** Speaking Notes For Hon. Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, MPP Minister of Citizenship and Immigration ODA Committee, London Region Michael Lewis Memorial Symposium London September 11, 2004 Thank you Chris and good morning everyone. It is a pleasure to be here with my friend, the Minister of Labour. Chris Bentley has spent his career actively working to advance opportunities for all citizens. He is an invaluable ally for all of us who want a strong Ontarians with Disabilities Act. And it is a special honour to be here for this symposium named after Michael Lewis. Michael Lewis was a champion of joy, of fun, of passion - a champion for all people. And Michael wouldn't give up. That's something Michael's wife Kathy knows well. Michael met Kathy one evening when he was performing in my hometown of Hamilton. He talked with her until three in the morning - and they were together ever after. Michael is rightly celebrated for his music. I am sure he would have been delighted to know that this year he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the London Music Awards. Michael is equally celebrated for his lifelong devotion to social justice. That devotion was the inspiration for his three rousing disability issue songs: "Still Waiting", "There Oughta Be A Law" and "We Do Too". One year ago this weekend, as Michael lay gravely ill, he was pursuing that love of justice and it was during this time that he prepared a column for the London Free Press. Michael wrote: "For me, and others with disabilities, accessibility is defined by the power to make one's own choices. Anything that disallows anyone choice over how or where they live, where they can go, or who gives them care, is a barrier that must be removed." That belief of Michael is a belief of everyone in this room. We must make it a belief - and a belief turned into action - of everyone in our province. It was ten years ago this November when 20 disability advocates formed the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. While progress has been slower than any of us would want, there has been progress. Your work has put disability issues squarely on the political agenda of Ontario. Your work is moving our province ahead. Your work is offering very real hope to all Ontarians with disabilities, their families, friends, and caregivers. We must always remember the inspiration of Michael Lewis and - in his words - "be amazed that hope and courage is alive". Ontario Liberals were by your side when we were in Opposition. And we are by your side now. Steve Peters, now our province's Minister of Agriculture and Food, held public meetings all over Ontario to bring about support for strong disability legislation. Geraldine Copps, a City Councillor from Hamilton, was the first municipal politician to support the ODA Committee a decade ago. And later this morning we are holding a tribute in Hamilton for Dominic Agostino, who was the Liberal Party's first critic for disability issues. And of course, Dalton McGuinty, now Premier McGuinty has supported the goals of your Committee throughout his years at Queen's Park. Last year, the Premier wrote to David Lepofsky and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, stating: "We believe that the Harris-Eves government's Ontarians with Disabilities Act does not even begin to adequately address the needs and rights of countless Ontarians. We will introduce ... a strong and effective ... Act." As soon as we took office, the Premier asked me to ensure that we have that legislation ready to go as soon as possible. To reach that objective, we have had welcome consultations with a wide range of Ontarians, including - and this is very important to me - a webcast with more than 2,000 students with disabilities. Among the incredibly valuable advice I received was the major new discussion paper from the ODA Committee. In that paper, you proposed options for compliance and enforcement in a reformed Act. As you wrote in your thoughtful document: "This should not be enforcement in the compulsory sense. It should be a combined compliance/enforcement process. This means that the Government should cooperatively work with organizations towards achieving compliance where possible. It should resort to compulsory enforcement only when this has not succeeded." The simple bottom line is that we should all be able to ride transit, shop in stores, receive an education, obtain health care and get a job without facing barriers. That means ending physical and non-physical barriers. That means ending barriers that are technological, contractual, bureaucratic, informational and attitudinal, as well as physical. That means ending barriers for Ontarians with visible and invisible disabilities. The ODA Committee coined a very simple phrase to explain the ultimate goal: a "barrier-free society". To me, this is an issue of human rights. We cannot imagine a job refused to someone because he or she comes from London. But that is what happens in reality when someone from London with dyslexia is forced to fill out a written job application on the spot. We should not tolerate harassment of women and yet people with learning disabilities or mental health issues face countless comparable issues - real barriers to success - often unintentional barriers - but very real, nonetheless. I am very grateful to the ODA Committee for pushing for the broadest possible definition of disability. This is an issue that has yet to permeate the general public or the media's consciousness. And we have much work to do together on this matter. In fact, we have much work to do together on a range of issues. Throughout this summer I have been working with my caucus colleagues one by one, including Chris Bentley and Steve Peters, to ask for their strong backing of a truly effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act. With the full support of the Premier, I fully intend to introduce this legislation this fall. Within one year of our election, our government will, therefore, be bringing forward legislation to deliver on Premier McGuinty's commitment to the ODA Committee . Let me be crystal clear. This issue matters deeply to Chris Bentley and Steve Peters. It matters deeply to me. It matters deeply to the Premier. Creating a barrier-free Ontario is fundamental to making our province the most civilized place in the world in which to live. It is fundamental to tapping the full potential of every Ontarian. It is fundamental to reaching the full economic, social, cultural and human potential of our province. It is fundamental to embracing and celebrating our common humanity. What I have heard through the past months will be reflected in what I propose. And I have heard about a great deal. The role of the private sector. Accountability. Employment. Enforcement and compliance - including monitoring, procurement and penalties. Planning. Standards. Public awareness and education. Best practices. Transportation service and building codes. Municipal services. Incentives. The range of disabilities - including invisible disabilities. Multiple barriers. Partnerships. And leadership. Integrating government services and programs. As I have paid attention, I have been impressed by both the patience and the pragmatism of Ontarians with disabilities. I have also been impressed by the good will expressed by the overwhelming number of people in the private sector. I fully understand that we need everybody's help to make change. And I have fully understood that it would be a mistake for me as one Minister to deal with the issues on my own. We need to spread out responsibility. It cannot be the focus of just one Ministry or even one government. It must be the focus of us all. We need short range action - like the new measures we'll be proposing. We need medium range action - like ongoing work among the disabled community, the private sector, government and the general public to knock down existing barriers, and help prevent the creation of new barriers. And we need long range action. We need to change our society's mindset about disability. That is the message that most passionately came through to me from young Ontarians, from students with disabilities. We need to raise a generation of Ontarians who are acutely aware of accessibility, who are determined to create that truly barrier-free society. That is the message we learn from the history of the ODA Committee. Ten years ago, an unheard of grassroots movement helped bring about the passage of disability rights legislation in Ontario. And you have brought that purpose to life. A flame lit by 20 people has become a centerpiece of the agenda of the Ontario government. That flame is growing brighter every week, every month, every year. This London region of the ODA Committee has always been creative in making our shared dream come closer to reality. You produced an excellent document, "Life in a City Full of Barriers", to highlight the need for a strong ODA. You brought media coverage to the establishment of new market areas that were inaccessible for persons with certain disabilities. You organized the first all candidates' meeting on disability issues. I am very pleased that today, you are continuing that work, continuing that creativity. We have much work to do as individuals and together in the months and years ahead. We all need to be moved by the power, the passion and the love of humanity of Michael Lewis. Michael taught us that hope and courage must always be alive. He taught us to remain "amazed at the whole human spirit". Thank you for inviting me this morning. Thank you for what you have already accomplished. Thank you for your determination to accomplish what still lies ahead. And let me assure you that when I come forward with proposals for a strengthened Ontarians with Disabilities Act, I very much look forward to carry on working with you in partnership and in friendship. With you and with other people of determination and good will, we can help give all Ontarian the opportunities to make the most of their lives. Together, we can make that happen. Thank you. -- 30 --

 

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