Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee: Letter dd October 17, 2000; The ODA Committe: is a voluntary coalition of individuals and community organizations who have united to secure the passage in Ontario of a new law which would achieve a barrier-free society for persons with disabilities.

Letter from The Honourable Helen Johns,
Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation

Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation

Minister

6th Floor
400 University Avenue
Toronto ON M7A 2R9

Tel (416) 325-6200
Fax (416) 325-6195

October 17, 2000

David Lepofsky
c/o Marg Thomas
Co-Chair
Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee
1929 Bayview Ave.
Toronto ON M4G 3E8

Dear Mr. Lepofsky:

Thank you for your letter following our meeting on September 8. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the Ontarians with Disabilities Committee.

I will reiterate our government's commitment to enacting disability legislation by November 23, 2001. We are also committed to introducing a disability action plan by the end of this session.

As we discussed at our meeting, any decision to hold public hearings on disability legislation would be made by the government. I continue to consult with a wide range of stakeholders, both formally and informally, and am happy to receive written input from any interested party.

I am also continuing to research the operations, costs and implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The June 1997 Roeher Institute report, which you made reference to at our meeting, was commissioned by the government to begin to gather data on early outcomes of the ADA.

As you indicated, the Roeher report includes a small sample of accommodation costs gathered by the Job Accommodation Network, based on the 646 employers who had used its services.

The report acknowledges, however, that there are few reliable data available and notes that cost continues to be a major issue in disputes over ADA compliance. Research that we are gathering is needed to provide reliable data to support the development and passage of disability legislation.

Thank you again for providing the opportunity to meet with representatives of ODAC. Please be assured that I have written to the Premier to pass on ODAC's request for a meeting, as I promised at our meeting.

Sincerely,

Helen Johns
Minister

c. The Honourable Michael D. Harris, Premier of Ontario

| Return to Correspondence Page | Index Page |