Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD)
to host O.D.A. Event

The OAD (Ontario Association of the Deaf) will host a community forum in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15th at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

when:  Tuesday, December 15th, 1998   7 - 9:00 pm

where:
Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf
2395 Bayview Avenue
North York, ON

speakers:
David Lepofsky, co-chair of the ODA Committee
Gary Malkowski, former MPP York East

For more information, contact Chris Kenopic at the OAD:
(416) 513-1893 TTY
(416) 413-822 Fax

Please read the press release for further details or just scroll below:

PRESS RELEASE

Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD)

December 14, 1998

Premier Harris has SCROOGED Bill 83 -
Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Monday, December 14, 1998:   For Immediate Release

On December 15th, 1998 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf on 2395 Bayview St. The Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD) is hosting the Emergency Community Forum to demand that the Harris Government withdraw and replace Bill 83 with a strong, effective and enforceable Ontarians with Disabilities Act now.

"This proposed legislation clearly violates the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark ruling in the Eldridge vs British Columbia case" says Chris Kenopic, President, Ontario Association of the Deaf. "Bill 83 is useless and an insult to our Deaf consumers."

David Lepofsky, co-chair of the ODA Committee and Gary Malkowski, former MPP York East are invited to speak at the Community Forum.

On November 23, 1998, Minister of Citizenship, Isabel Bassett introduced Bill 83, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act into the legislature, claiming that this Bill represents the fulfilment of Premier Harris 1995 election promise to introduce an ODA within his first term of office.

During a month long, province-wide consultation period in the late summer, people with disabilities and organizations that serve them repeatedly told the government that for an ODA to be effective it must contain mandatory, enforceable measures. They argued that voluntary measures have been proven to be ineffective time and time again.

"I cannot believe this government has the nerve to present this 2-1/2 page document and call it a "milestone". At best, it is just a "stone" that will ensure that no progress is made on achieving our goal of a barrier-free society," says Mr. Kenopic.

The Ontario Association of the Deaf joins the ODA Committee, a voluntary coalition of individuals and organizations concerned with the rights of people with disabilities in asking Premier Harris to withdraw Bill 83 and replace it with a strong and meaningful ODA.

For more information, contact Chris Kenopic at:
(416) 513-1893 TTY
(416) 413-822 Fax

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