Ernie
Eves government moves forward with proclamation of additional sections of
the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
TORONTO,
Sept. 30 /CNW/ - The blueprint for a fully inclusive future for people
with disabilities was advanced with the proclamation of additional
sections of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001(ODA), Minister of
Citizenship, Carl DeFaria announced today.
Today's proclamation brings into law the sections of the act
setting out specific accessibility obligations for the government of
Ontario, municipalities, and other scheduled organizations including
public transit organizations, school boards, hospitals, colleges and
universities.
"Today's proclamation underscores our government's commitment
to improve the lives of the province's 1.9 million people with
disabilities. We're taking action to make this a barrier-free
society," said DeFaria.
Municipalities (10,000 + population) will be required to have
municipal accessibility advisory committees in place at proclamation on
September 30, 2002. All municipalities will be required to develop annual
accessibility plans and make them public within one year of proclamation.
"Making Ontario accessible is a shared responsibility that
will benefit us all," said DeFaria. "Many Ontario municipalities
and others with obligations under the act are already advancing the vision
of a province where no new barriers are created and existing ones are
removed over time."
Tools are available to assist those with obligations under the ODA
including a resource package for municipalities on how to establish
municipal advisory committees. Accessibility planning guidelines for
municipalities and others organizations affected (public transportation
organizations, school boards, hospitals, colleges and universities) are
available on the Accessibility Ontario Web site located at
http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/index.html.
The ODA is Canada's most far-reaching and comprehensive legislation
for people with disabilities. The ODA builds on the government's
multi-billion dollar commitment to programs and services for people with
disabilities, including $1 billion in new funding announced since 1995.
Disponible
en français.
For
more information visit www.gov.on.ca/mczcr
Backgrounder
;
Municipal
and other scheduled organizations’ obligations under the Ontarians with
Disabilities Act 2001
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) was passed on
December 14, 2001. A partial proclamation of several sections of the act
took place on February 7, 2002 (section 19, establishing the Accessibility
Advisory Council of Ontario and section 20, establishing the Accessibility
Directorate of Ontario). The proclamation of these two sections was the
essential first step that needed to be taken before the balance of the act
could be proclaimed.
Proclamation of additional sections bring into law obligations on
the part of the government of Ontario, municipalities, and other scheduled
organizations including public transportation organizations, school
boards, hospitals, colleges and universities. Ongoing ODA implementation
demonstrates the government's commitment to people with disabilities,
reaffirms the seriousness of this commitment and ensures that relevant
sectors comply with
the
legislation by implementing the necessary changes.
Key
dates
Passage of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 - December 14,
2001
Partial Proclamation - February 7, 2002
Notice to Proclaim posted in Ontario Gazette - July 6, 2002
Further Proclamation - September 30, 2002
Government Internet accessibility - December 31, 2002
Affected
Organizations
Municipalities
Municipalities (10,000 + population) will be required to have
municipal accessibility advisory committees in place at proclamation on
September 30, 2002. All municipalities will be required to develop annual
accessibility plans and make them public within one year of proclamation.
Other
scheduled organizations (hospitals, schools board, colleges, universities,
and public transportation organizations)
These organizations will be required to prepare annual
accessibility plans in consultation with people with disabilities and make
the plans public within one year of proclamation. The plans will address
the identification, prevention and removal of barriers to people with
disabilities in the organizations' by-laws and its policies, programs,
practices and services.
Helping
those affected prepare for proclamation
A resource package is available to provide guidance to those with
obligations under the ODA.
The "How to" Guide to Establishing a Municipal Advisory
Committee details the legislative authority for municipal advisory
committees, the terms of reference for these committees, consultation
guidelines, best practices and a section on how municipalities can
maximize the findings of their committees. The Guide to Municipal
Accessibility Planning provides concrete useful information to
municipalities as they prepare their annual accessibility plans.
The general Guide to Annual Accessibility Planning provides
information to school boards, hospitals, colleges and universities, public
transportation organizations and the public sector in developing their
accessibility plans. Customized versions of these guidelines for these
organizations will be available later this fall.
Disponible
en français
http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility
For
further information: Mike Campbell, Communications (416) 314-7239;
Barbara
Burrowes, Minister's Office, (416) 325-6207; Marie O'Keefe,
Communications
(416) 314-7382