ODA Update
May 20, 2001

Only 187 more days until the November 23, 2001 deadline for the Legislature to pass into law a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Here is news on action on the ODA front: * On Monday, May 14, 2001, a Liberal MPP introduced a petition into the Ontario Legislature from northwestern Ontario which called for reforms in the area of the Ontario Disability Support Program ODSP. It includes the ODA and links the ODA issue with problems involving the ODSP. See the text below. * The next day, Tuesday, May 15, 2001, the ODA came up again in the Legislature in two contexts. First Liberal MPP Bruce Crozier made a statement about the ODA issue, and described the ODA Committee Windsor Essex Region's successful May 11, 2001 Birthday Party in recognition of the 6th Anniversary of Inaction on Premier Harris' promise to enact the ODA. Second, during a debate on that day marking activities by the Ontario Association for Community Living and its related local associations in working towards better rights and services for persons with intellectual disabilities, the ODA was raised by Opposition MPPs. See excerpts about the ODA from this longer debate, set out below. * The ODA came up for a third day in a row on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 in the Legislature. Liberal Disability Critic Ernie Parsons made a statement in the Legislature calling on Premier Harris to finally agree to meet with us. See below. The day after that, Thursday, May 17, 2001, Liberal Disability Critic Ernie Parsons issued a news release. It congratulated the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission for a statement recommending that the Ontario Government enact the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. See below. A rather busy four days on the ODA front, no? ****** Ontario Hansard Monday 14 May 2001 ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM Mr Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): We're launching a very important petition campaign related to cost-of-living adjustment needs for those who are living on Ontario disability support. The petition reads: "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: "Whereas the recipients of benefits under the Ontario Disability Act have not received a cost-of-living increase since a $2.50 increase in 1987; and "Whereas the cost of living in Ontario has increased in every one of the years since, especially for basic needs such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, clothing and household goods; and "Whereas disabled Ontarians are recognized under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, and as such have the right to have their basic needs met, including adequate housing, a proper and healthy diet, a bed that does not make them sicker and clothing that fits and is free of stains and holes; and "Whereas their basic needs are no longer being met because the Ministry of Social Services has not increased the shelter and basic needs allowance of disabled Ontarians eligible to receive benefits under the Ontario disability support program to reflect the increased costs of shelter and basic needs (and in fact have reduced these benefits for those recipients who receive a disability benefit under the Canada pension plan); and "Whereas a new Ontarians with Disabilities Act has yet to be introduced to help protect the thousands of vulnerable people in Ontario who are dependent on others for their basic needs and care and who are eligible for benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997; "Therefore we, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, request the Ontario Legislature to urge the government to respect their own definition of basic needs and provide a cost-of-living increase to recipients of benefits through the Ontario Disability Support Program Act that is sufficient to cover the increased costs of their basic needs as of 2001 prices, and that this benefit not be reduced as a result of increases in the Canada pension plan benefit." This was sent to me by Roslyn Bergman, with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Thunder Bay, who is helping lead this campaign. I have hundreds of signatures here. There will be many, many more to come. I'm proud to sign it. ***** Tuesday 15 May 2001 ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES LEGISLATION Mr Bruce Crozier (Essex): Last week I attended a party with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act committee -- Windsor-Essex. It was the sixth anniversary recognition of the Ontario government's doing absolutely nothing about an Ontarians with Disabilities Act. They asked me to bring six gifts to Premier Harris. One is a fact sheet outlining the demographic needs of Ontarians with disabilities; two, Ontarians with disabilities buttons, a reminder to the Premier that four out of five Ontarians support an effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act; three, a copy of the Ontario Human Rights Commission report that promotes and clarifies the rights of persons with disabilities. Another gift is a blueprint for a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act --this was previously given to the Premier. Another gift is a symbolic $100 bill, a reminder that money is not a barrier to the implementation of an effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act; and six, a ballot that's a reminder that 1.5 million Ontarians with disabilities vote. Ontarians with disabilities are not different. They just do things differently. They do things well and with dignity. Premier, give Ontarians with disabilities dignity. Give them an effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act. I am pleased to welcome as well people from the Association for Community Living in my community and those from across Ontario who are with us today. ... Mr Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): I'm very proud and honoured to rise today on behalf of Dalton McGuinty, my leader, and the members of the Ontario Liberal caucus to speak on this unanimous consent motion and to offer our enthusiastic support in recognizing May 15 as Community Living Day in Ontario. I would first of all take the opportunity to welcome the many distinguished guests from the Ontario Association for Community Living and member associations from across the province who join us today. I understand that well over 100 representatives, including clients, board members, managers, caregivers and friends, are with us here to celebrate Community Living Day at Queen's Park. We thank you. Today is more than just an opportunity for us as legislators to honour and celebrate the accomplishments of an organization that has worked for over 50 years to bring communities and people together. The work it does now in more than 100 communities across Ontario is surely worth recognizing 365 days a year. Today is also more than a chance for us to recognize the dedicated staff and caregivers who, day in and day out, provide opportunity, hope and friendship to persons with intellectual disabilities. The tremendous dedicated work they do, which often seems undervalued and unheralded, is truly priceless. Today is a day when we can truly look at the concept of community living, what it implies and what it means. To me, community living is a rallying cry that continues to resonate in community after community in the lives of persons with disabilities right across this province. In many ways it's a cry for help. It's a plea for dignity, independence and inclusion. It is a constant battle for fairness, for equality, and for recognition. Community living is what we as legislators should be pushing and fighting for each and every day for the more than 1.5 Ontarians with disabilities. The right to citizenship and participation that we all take for granted is often denied to those who can't fend for themselves. Community living is about giving the best supports we can to families and parents of children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities who struggle every day to break down barriers, to overcome prejudices, and are in a constant struggle to find needed services. Community living is truly what the Ontario Association for Community Living is all about. For my brother Mark, who lives independently thanks to the wonderful staff at the Lakehead Association for Community Living located in my Thunder Bay riding, and to all the brothers and sisters and sons and daughters who you have in your care, we thank you with all our hearts. The Ontario Association for Community Living not only started the movement 50-plus years ago; it has changed and shaped our society for the better. I'm pleased to hear the member opposite speak so strongly in support of Community Living Day here in Ontario. While disagreements between my party and hers perhaps do abound, I will certainly take her at her word that she's committed to continue the fight for community living, and the rallying cry of what it means, at the Tory caucus table. Perhaps she can start by standing in her place and asking the Premier to fulfill a promise made six long years ago, a promise that would make a huge difference in the fight for equality and fairness for Ontarians with disabilities. I'm referring, of course, to this government's failure to bring forward and enact a real and meaningful Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Community living is about inclusion. Without real legislative protection, the hopes and dreams of many Ontarians will be left unrealized, unfulfilled and untapped. My leader, Dalton McGuinty, and our disabilities critic, the member for Prince Edward- Hastings, and indeed all the members on this side of the House will not rest until this government recognizes that an Ontarians with Disabilities Act is about human rights, removing barriers and overcoming obstacles. It certainly is more than the legislation that's been brought forward in this House so far. We need a real and meaningful Ontarians with Disabilities Act. ... Ms Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): On behalf of the NDP caucus, it's my pleasure to acknowledge our support for Community Living Day at Queen's Park. I want to commend the members of the Ontario Association for Community Living for lobbying all three political parties to recognize this day. We welcome our guests here this afternoon. We would also like to thank all those municipalities that are making May Community Awareness Month and holding celebrations for awareness of community living. I have some remarks which are non-partisan, but in light of the comments made by the parliamentary assistant, I really feel I am compelled to place on the record the following facts with respect to this government's funding of this important sector. The facts I refer to come directly from a brief that was provided to us by the Ontario Association for Community Living in the lead-up to the 2001 provincial budget. I would like to raise three facts, and these are from the association. ... Finally, it demands putting in place an Ontarians with Disabilities Act which will truly remove the barriers facing those with intellectual disabilities and allow them to participate fully in all aspects of community life. I have always felt like I was part of a community, and I suspect most members would feel the same. I don't know what it's like to live outside of or be segregated from the mainstream. I don't want to know what it's like either. No one should be excluded from the community because of a disability. No one should have to live in an institution because of an intellectual disability. We have an obligation to integrate some of Ontario's most vulnerable citizens into our schools, our workplaces, our recreational facilities, our neighbourhoods. It's the right thing to do. It's what we need to commit to today, on Community Living Day. ***** Ontario Hansard Wednesday 16 May 2001 ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES LEGISLATION Mr Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): In 1998 this House unanimously supported a resolution by the member from Windsor-St Clair to establish 11 principles for an Ontarians with Disabilities Act. June, which is approaching, next month, will mark the sixth anniversary since the Premier committed to passing an ODA act. In that time the citizens of Ontario have continued to suffer. There is an obligation, as we have been reminded through the media in the past several weeks, for an MPP to meet with each and every constituent and to advocate for each and every constituent. The Premier has on 27 occasions refused in writing to meet with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. When they were just down the hallway here, the Premier refused to go down the hallway and meet with them. But now he is in Switzerland committing to provide accessible accommodation and accessible services for the participants in the Paralympics that will happen here in 2008, hopefully. Excellent idea. Great idea. It's long overdue that we commit to that. But if the Premier can commit to support the removal of barriers for visitors to the Olympics in 2008, surely he can take and remove the barriers for the citizens of Ontario. He has an obligation as Premier, whether he believes in a group or not or whether he supports a group or not, to meet with each and every citizen. I demand that the Premier find five minutes of time while he's in town to meet with the ODA committee. ***** Press Release May 17th 2001 LIBERAL CRITIC PRAISES HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER'S CALL FOR A DISABILITIES LAW Queen's Park - Ernie Parsons, MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings and Liberal Critic for Persons with Disabilities praised the call for an Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) by Keith Norton, Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). In response to questioning on whether Ontario needs a disabilities law, Mr. Norton stated that he would advise the provincial government to pass such legislation. "This is great news", Parsons declared. "Despite Mike Harris' repeated promise to introduce and implement an ODA, we have yet to see anything meaningful and effective for persons with disabilities in this province", Parsons observed. This call by the Commissioner reinforces the argument that despite the advances in policy, the Ontario Human Rights Commission can not be the only statutory vehicle used to remove and prevent barriers to full inclusion for persons with disabilities. "The OHRC is trying very hard but, it can't do everything that is needed for persons with disabilities in Ontario and I commend the Commissioner for saying so", Parsons stated. "We need both the Human Rights Commission and an ODA. If this government is serious about disabilities issues, it will ensure that the Commission works with an ODA to remove and prevent barriers in this province", Parsons challenged. -30- Contact: Ernie Parsons, MPP Prince Edward-Hastings (416) 32-4700

 

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Last updated May 24, 2001