 |
|||||||||||||||
 |
ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE MAY 24, 2002 STILL AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY ON THE ROAD TO A BARRIER-FREE ONTARIO May 24, 2002 SUMMARY Today, May 24, 2002, is the seventh anniversary of Mike Harris's promise to enact the Ontarians with Disabilities Act in his first term. Here is a column that was published in today's Toronto Star on this issue. We encourage you to circulate it, to send your own thoughts on this anniversary to your local media, and to send us your feedback . ***** Toronto Star Friday, May 24, 2002 Page A26 Ontarians With Disabilities Act Still waiting for real changes BY DAVID LEPOFSKY Today is an important anniversary for Ontario's government, highlighting a major piece of unfinished business inherited by Premier Ernie Eves. Seven years ago, Ontario's Conservative party pledged to enact the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) in its first term. Ontario needs this law to eliminate the many barriers blocking more than 1.5 million Ontarians with physical, mental or sensory disabilities from participating fully in all htmlects of life. Since then, Ontarians with disabilities spent exhausting years pressing the Tories to keep that promise. Was it a priority for the Tories_ They passed an ODA only last December, six and a half years later. It was Mike Harris' last piece of legislation. Last fall, the Tories gave persons with disabilities as little as 24 hours' notice of public hearings on this bill. People with disabilities usually cannot arrange accessible public transit on short notice. The Tories then voted down almost every amendment proposed by those disability groups that got to these hearings. Ultimately, most found the Tories' ODA very disappointing. This issue did not go away when the Tories passed their ODA. Last fall the Tories made important new commitments to Ontarians with disabilities. They pledged that Ontario would become barrier-free as soon as reasonably possible, that Ontario's disability community would be in the driver's seat, playing a central role in setting standards and time lines for removing barriers in the public and private sectors, that the government will enforce compliance with this law and will show leadership, that specific accessibility goals will be met, and that the government will not rest until. it achieves its vision. What has the government done to keep these promises_ Ontarians with disabilities are waiting to see change on the ground that affects their lives. The recent Throne Speech said nothing about plans to keep the government's commitments to Ontarians with disabilities, unlike the last three Throne Speeches. Five months after passing the ODA, the government still has not proclaimed in force the majority of its provisions. (Nobody must obey a provision if it is not proclaimed in force.) The government recently said the ODA will take effect this fall. After months, the government recently appointed its first five members to a provincial Disability Advisory Council. (The Tories abolished such a body in 1995, weeks after taking office.) It also has now established a new Accessibility Directorate. Despite this slow start, we hope that Eves triggers a new approach. Several factors point in that direction. Eves promised more moderate, consultative government. His government says it keeps all its commitments. This is a government reputed for taking swift, decisive action when it wants to. A provincial election approaches. Eves will want to campaign on achieving substantial progress on removing barriers impeding persons with disabilities. Looking over Eves' shoulder are the Liberals and the NDP. They effectively championed this issue for years, pledged to enact a stronger ODA, and proposed detailed amendments to the Tories' bill last fall. How can Eves make a difference_ For a start, he could set a dramatic new, more consultative tone for his government by accepting our offer to meet with him. We want to help him fulfil his government's commitments to Ontarians with disabilities. The province-wide ODA Committee is widely recognized for leading the efforts to secure the enactment of the ODA, and as a leading centre of expertise. Eves could demonstrate that he is not Mike Harris, who refused all our requests to meet. Eves could immediately proclaim in force all the provisions of the ODA for which no preparatory work is required, such as the increased fine for misuse of a handicap parking spot, and the provision requiring municipalities to establish disability advisory committees. He could detail a timetable for proclaiming the rest of the ODA in force, so all can know when they must comply. He could announce a timetable for developing and enacting regulations under the ODA to set standards and timelines for action in specific sectors, and to provide for enforcement if standards are not met. For example, Ontario's Human Rights Commission recently called on the government to set standards for accessibility to public transit. Implementing Eves' consultative approach, his government could commit to bring to one table the disability community and other stakeholders to develop these regulations together. Last fall, the government said it had "a host of supportive stakeholders ... ready and willing to make it happen." Let's work together so that one year from today, Ontano can point to serious, substantial progress toward a barrier-free province, with effective regulations in place and with barriers against persons with disabilities coming down. Learn more at http://www.odacommittee.net. David Lepofsky is chair of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, a voluntary, non-partisan coalition advocating for the ODA. --- |
||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
