ODA Update
October 31, 2001

ODA HEATS UP IN THE LEGISLATURE AS THE DAY
APPROACHES FOR THE BILL'S INTRODUCTION

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE SUMMARY The ODA was raised twice during Question Period thisweek. This is a sure sign that the bill's introduction is getting closer. Both events are set out below. * On Tuesday, October 30, 2001, a Government MPP asked Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson about the forthcoming ODA. Government MPPs have such questions scripted for them by the Government when they want to showcase the Government's strategy and approach. As in recent days, the Government's approach includes some effort at blaming the federal government for inaction in this area. In fact the Federal Government is not responsible for and has no authority over most of the barriers in Ontario. This is one big red herring, and we should not be distracted from it. The six and a half year delay on the ODA is the Ontario Government's sole responsibility. Let's hope the new bill will have been worth the wait. * On Wednesday, October 31, 2001, Opposition Leader Dalton McGuinty asked Citizenship Minister Jackson if the ODA would comply with the 11 principles which we proposed and the Legislature approved three years ago. See the answer below. As well, Mr. McGuinty proposed that the ODA be subject to public hearings after the bill receives first reading. See the Minister's answer on this score below. There are now only 24 days to go until the Legislature's November 23, 2001 deadline for a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act to be enacted. Time is running out!   ***** Ontario Hansard Tuesday, October 30, 2001 Question Period ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES LEGISLATION Mr Doug Galt (Northumberland): My question is directed to the Minister of Citizenship. Minister, as you've informed the House, you've been meeting with community leaders across the province in preparation for the introduction of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the legislation that you've stated will be tabled within a few weeks. As part of those consultations, I understand you met recently with stakeholders in Ottawa. Minister, you've said repeatedly that everyone in the public and private sectors -- as a matter of fact, all levels of government -- will need to work together to prevent the creation of new barriers and eliminate existing barriers if persons with disabilities are to achieve full citizenship. As the seat of the federal government and Canada's capital, Ottawa, one would hope, is at the forefront in improving accessibility for persons with disabilities. Can you report on what you've found during your visit to Ottawa? Hon Cameron Jackson (Minister of Citizenship, minister responsible for seniors): First of all, I was in Ottawa last week for my third visit with disabled persons. Ottawa has a very progressive committee. It's been in operation for over 10 years. They are doing extensive work in terms of transit conversion and curb-cutting, some of the best work in the province, I might add. Under their leadership they're engaging the disabled community directly in planning decisions, in reviewing buildings. They're currently doing audits of municipal buildings. They have a concern though, quite frankly, that if we're going to find solutions in sharing the responsibility to make sure Ontario becomes more accessible, we are going to need to work with the federal government and we're -- Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): Fed-bashing. Hon Mr Jackson: We're not bashing them, member from St Catharines. I'd think he'd be the first one to suggest that the federal government should do its fair share. We haven't seen much evidence of it, but I believe that the federal government, especially in a city like Ottawa, is willing to do it for its own employees because any legislation we do in Ontario will not cover federal government buildings in this province. Mr Galt: Thank you, Minister. Also compliments to you for the extensive consultation that you've been carrying out on this particular bill. Extensive consultations are, of course, a hallmark of our government. Minister, as you have previously stated in the House, involving persons with disabilities in the public policy development is indeed a stated goal of the government. In your meetings with members of the Ottawa accessibility committee for the disabled, did you get an indication as to how they would like the government to proceed with an Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the type of approach the legislation should pursue? Hon Mr Jackson: Very clearly, the Ottawa Accessibility Advisory Committee feels very strongly, as does this government, that any legislative initiative and any efforts put forward to make Ontario more accessible should involve the disability communities directly. I've stated in this House before that from what I've seen in Ottawa and how it works, it is working very well, and we're encouraged by that. In fact, since amalgamation in Ottawa, they have actually even strengthened their rules of participation. The committee is made up of 13 members of the disability community appointed by council and includes one councillor. It happens to be Councillor Madeleine Meilleur from Ottawa. The committee is chaired by Barry McMahon, who is a member of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. He has indicated his full support for the government's approach of ensuring active and ongoing participation of disabled persons. Clearly we need to achieve full accessibility as everyone's business and to everyone's benefit in Ontario. ***** Ministry of Community and Social Services Office of the Minister Hepburn Block Queen's Park Toronto ON M7A 1E9 October 23, 2001 Mr. David Lepofsky Chair, ODA Committee c/o Marg Thomas 1929 Bayview Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8 Dear Mr. Lepofsky: Thank you for your letter of September 18, 2001 advising me of your organization's position on the proposed Ontarians with Disabilities Act. I appreciate the time you have taken to bring your concerns to my attention and will keep them in mind in my ongoing discussions with my Cabinet and caucus colleagues. Once again, thank you for writing. Sincerely, John Baird, MPP Minister ***** Ontario Hansard Wednesday, October 31, 2001 Question Period Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Minister of Citizenship. You will recognize that the Premier made a very specific promise to enact an Ontarians with Disabilities Act. You will also know how long ago he made that promise. You will also know how long it has been that the one and a half million Ontarians with disabilities have waited for him to deliver on that promise. It's been nearly seven years. Minister, we understand now that you could be introducing a bill on this subject as soon as tomorrow. Three years ago, on a resolution proposed by our party, this House unanimously adopted 11 principles to be incorporated in this new piece of legislation. Will you commit today that your bill will abide by the 11 principles unanimously supported by this House? Hon Cameron Jackson (Minister of Citizenship, minister responsible for seniors): I'm sure the honourable member is aware that I have responded to this and several other questions about the ODA in the last few weeks. He would also be aware that we have consulted quite widely with disabled groups and individuals and stakeholders across the province. The principles that he suggests have been widely discussed. It would appear, perhaps, that the member opposite has not had much of a consultation with municipalities. I cite one example which I have cited in the House before, that if the Liberal Party fully supports complete, overriding provisions in the Municipal Act, as one example, that is not an issue which municipalities are encouraged about. But when the honourable member sees the legislation, when it's tabled, he will see very clearly that these principles have been strongly considered and that there are opportunities in this legislation to move forward for persons with disabilities, unlike any other government has done in Canada. Mr McGuinty: Minister, I distinguish between something that is strongly considered and something that is unequivocally endorsed, and I'm sure that the Ontarians with disabilities will listen with great interest to your response. Our party has been fighting for nearly seven years to get a strong and effective Ontarians with Disabilities Act, but that's not nearly as long as David Lepofsky and his committee have been fighting for this. Minister, it's one thing to keep the one and a half million Ontarians with disabilities waiting this long and it's quite another to shut them out of the process to lend shape to the actual legislation. That would be to add insult to injury. I'm asking on their behalf that the committee to which will be assigned the responsibility to deal with this new piece of legislation will travel immediately after first reading and that it won't just stay here in Toronto but it will go to Thunder Bay and Windsor and Ottawa and points in between. Minister, do I have your commitment that this legislation will go to committee after first reading and that the committee will travel? Hon Mr Jackson: This question has already been raised and it has already been responded to. But I want to go back to what the member has asked about the 11 principles. If there is anything that the disability community has waited for over the last seven years, it has also been a commitment from the Liberal Party and the Liberal opposition. Just in your own report of your assessment of the situation confronting disabled persons in this province, you indicate that after you publish a reiteration of the principles-are you prepared to fund them, are you prepared to cost them, are you prepared to commit to them? No, you are not. What the Liberals will do is that they feel-and I quote directly from their report-that this is a good starting point for any discussions regarding any future legislation. That's the problem. You would sit and discuss it for six years, like you did when you were the government. This government is going to table disability legislation that all disabled persons can be proud of in this province.

 

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Last updated October 31, 2001