ODA Committee Update
dated January 30, 2005
posted March 7, 2005

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE ODA Committee Issues News Release On Public Hearings Re Bill 118 - Please Circulate This News Release To Your Local Media January 30, 2005 SUMMARY The ODA Committee has just issued a news release to announce the historic public hearings of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 118, the proposed Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. (See text below) We encourage you to: * Send this news release to your local media. * Issue your own news release on this topic. * Urge your local media to cover these public hearings. They can tune in via TV or the internet if they don't send a reporter in person. * Give your own perspectives to the media on these hearings and on Bill 118. * Let the media know when you and/or your organization is making a presentation to the public hearings. * Remember to come to the hearings in your community to show your support, if you can. Send us your feedback and let us know how the media reacts to your approaches. Send us any coverage you get. You can always reach us at: oda@odacommittee.net ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LEGISLATURE'S STANDING COMMITTEE TO KICK OFF HISTORIC PUBLIC HEARINGS ON NEW BILL TO MAKE PROVINCE FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES January 30, 2005 Toronto: On Monday, January 31, 2005, the Ontario Legislature's Standing Committee on Social Policy kicks off 6 jam-packed days of province-wide public hearings on Bill 118, the proposed Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act with the first two days of hearings at Queen's Park. This bill aims to make Ontario a barrier-free province for its over 1.5 million residents with physical, mental or sensory disabilities. For the first time in Ontario history, these hearings, held at Toronto, Ottawa, London, Niagara Falls and Thunder Bay, and ending on February 8, will be televised and webcast (schedule attached). "We've tenaciously campaigned for over a decade for a strong, effective new law to tear down the barriers that block persons with disabilities from full access to jobs, goods, services and facilities others take for granted," said David Lepofsky, chair of the province-wide non-partisan grassroots Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee that has led the charge for this bill. "We're delighted that the Government brought this bill forward, that all three parties unanimously supported this bill in principle on Second Reading, that this bill now goes to televised public hearings, and that the Government is open to suggestions from community groups at these hearings on how to amend this bill to make it even better." After consulting its supporters and extensive research, the ODA Committee has filed a 50-page brief with the Standing Committee, and will make a presentation to the hearings on Tuesday, February 1, 2005, from 3:45 to 4:00 p.m. at Committee Room 1, the Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Toronto. It tabled a package of proposed amendments, which it hopes all parties will support. These would add more time frames to the bill to ensure timely progress towards full accessibility, would make the Government more open and accountable when implementing this bill, would provide independent public monitoring of progress under the bill, would mandate education on disability accessibility and would close loopholes in the bill. Many individuals and organizations will present their own perspectives on the bill, will put a human face on this issue by describing the barriers they face in their local communities and will suggest amendments. Bill 118 is the fourth disability accessibility bill to come before the Legislature since 1994, over the span of three successive Ontario governments. Contact: David Lepofsky oda@odacommittee.net For full background, visit: www.odacommittee.net   For Premier McGuinty's election commitments regarding this legislation, visit: www.odacommittee.net/news126.html   SCHEDULE OF BILL 118 PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday Jan. 31 and Tuesday Feb 1: Toronto 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Ontario Legislature Building Queen's Park Committee Room 1 Televised/webcast live Wednesday, , Feb. 2 Niagara Falls Americana Conference Resort, South Grand Ballroom 8444 Lundy's Lane (905) 356-8444 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Televised/webcast Friday, Jan. 4 Thursday, Feb. 3 London Four Points Sheraton 1150 Wellington Rd. South (519) 681-8222 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Televised/webcast Sat. Feb. 5 Monday, Feb. 7 Thunder Bay Valhalla Inn 1 Valhalla Inn Road (807) 577-1121 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Televised/webcast Wed., Feb. 9 Tuesday, Feb. 8 Ottawa Courtyard By Marriott, Laurier Room 350 Dalhousie St. (613) 241-1000 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Televised/webcast Feb. Thurs., Feb. 10 The broadcast is on the Ontario Legislature Channel on TV and the webcast is available on the Legislative Assembly website at www.ontla.on.ca

 

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