New era of accessibility begins in Ontario
Legislature Approves New Accessibility Law

May 10, 2005

The Ontario legislature today passed a historic law that will make Ontario a world leader in breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.

Representatives from the provincial government, industries or sectors, and people with disabilities will form committees to develop standards in each sector. The committees will submit proposed standards to the government for adoption as regulations. The standards will include timelines for compliance, and the legislation provides tough penalties for violators.

Doug DeRabbie, Government Relations Director of the Retail Council of Canada, welcomed passage of the bill. "Retailers know that accessibility is good for Ontario and is a benefit to business," he said. "It means more customers and therefore more sales opportunities. Many retailers are already discussing how they can improve accessibility to customers with disabilities."

Bountrogianni hailed the vote passing the bill. "Like the people they represent, the members of the house embrace the vision behind this legislation: fairness, opportunity and inclusion - building stronger communities and a stronger economy - and making Ontario the place to be."

Disponible en français

www.gov.on.ca/citizenship

 

Backgrounder

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HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2005

Ontario's legislative assembly has passed Bill 118, the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. It will take effect on royal assent.
The new act is strong and effective legislation that will allow people with
disabilities to participate in building a stronger province.

The purpose of the new act is to benefit all Ontarians by achieving
accessibility for people with disabilities. This will be done by developing,
implementing and enforcing accessibility standards concerning goods, services,
accommodation, facilities, buildings and employment. Improvements will be
phased in, in stages of five years or less, moving towards an accessible
Ontario in 20 years.

Importance of Standards

Standards will set out the measures, policies, practices and other steps
needed to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. They will
be mandatory and will include time periods for implementing accessibility
requirements in stages of five years or less.
Standards could cover such areas as: accessible buses, safe pedestrian
routes into buildings, automatic doors at entrances, lower counter heights at
cash registers, large-print menus, accessible washroom facilities, staff
training in serving customers with learning disabilities, and adaptive
technology in the workplace.

Why This Act Is Needed

Improving accessibility is the right thing to do. It is also the smart
thing to do, because of demographics and economics.
The workplace and the marketplace are changing. With an aging population,
20 per cent of Ontarians are likely to have a disability in 20 years, up from
about 13 per cent today. People with disabilities already have an estimated
spending power of about $25 billion a year across Canada. In the U.S.
hospitality industry, implementing standards under the Americans with
Disabilities Act increased annual revenue by 12 per cent. People with
disabilities also represent a wealth of untapped employment potential.

Scope of Legislation

The new legislation covers both the public and private sectors. It also
applies to the legislative assembly.

Standards will address the full range of disabilities - including
physical, sensory, hearing, mental health, developmental and learning. That
is, both visible and invisible disabilities will be included.

An Inclusive Process for Developing Standards

The act will set up committees that include persons with disabilities,
representatives of industries or sectors, the Ontario government and others to
develop standards.

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration will appoint committees for
various sectors or industries to determine long-term accessibility objectives
as well as five-year targets for achieving them. Each will set a target date
for implementing the steps required in the first five years or less - as well
as target dates for successive stages of five years or less.

Committees will have the flexibility to tailor accessibility requirements
and timelines to economic realities. They could set different requirements and
timelines for different kinds of organizations. Since change will be phased
in, the cost of accessibility improvements could be absorbed in regular
planning and budget cycles.

Committees will submit proposed standards to the government for approval
as regulations.

Enforceable Legislation

Once a standard has been adopted as a regulation, all affected persons
and organizations will be required to comply within the timelines set out in
the standard.

The government will take a modern, transparent approach to enforcement.
Organizations covered by standards will be obliged to file accessibility
reports annually or as required, confirming compliance, and make them public.
Spot audits will verify the contents of reports, and there will be tough
penalties for non-compliance.

To strengthen accountability, the minister will prepare an annual report
on progress in removing and preventing barriers. In addition, the government
will appoint a person to undertake a comprehensive review of the act's
effectiveness after four years. The annual report and the comprehensive review
will provide timely information on the measurable results achieved under the
act.

Public Education

Attitudes are one of the biggest barriers facing people with
disabilities. Under the bill, the responsibilities of the Accessibility
Directorate of Ontario will include conducting public education programs on
the purpose and implementation of the act. Among the public education
activities will be information and training for schools, colleges,
universities, trade or occupational associations and self-governing
professions to build awareness of accessibility into the educational
experience.

New Advisory Council to Be Appointed

A new Accessibility Standards Advisory Council will advise the minister
on the progress made by standards development committees, public information
programs and other matters. Like the existing Accessibility Advisory Council
of Ontario, a majority of the members of the new body will be persons with
disabilities.

Disponible en français

www.gov.on.ca/citizenship