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Home > Government
Relations > Accessibility
Accessibility In October 2004 the McGuinty government introduced the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The AODA repeals the former Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA), and is the first piece of accessibility legislation in Canada to include the private sector. This legislation applies to all persons and organizations in the public and private sectors who provide a good, service, facility, or accommodation to the public. The AODA received final approval from the Legislature on May 9, 2005, and although it is expected to come into effect shortly afterward, it does lay out a 20 year timeframe for the province to be fully accessible. The legislation sets out a framework for development of sector-specific standard development committees. These committees, to be comprised of representatives of the sector, the disabilities community, and the government, will be tasked with developing standards regarding goods, services and facilities; accommodation; employment; buildings, structures and premises. Once a standard is developed the standard development committees will then be tasked with identifying and developing subsequent standards. Once a standard has been in place for five years the standard development committee will be tasked with reviewing that standard to determine if further amendments are required. All individuals and organizations compelled to meet a standard must file an annual accessibility report with the government, and must also make that report public. The legislation lays out an inspection and enforcement component, as well as an appeals process. In January 2005 the ORHMA made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 118, and clearly expressed the private sector’s need for certainty in the following areas:
The first two standards development committees established by the government focus on Customer Service and Transportation. When a committee has developed a proposed standard it will be released for public comment and amended as necessary before taking effect. Future standards development committees will focus on Built-Form, Employment, and Communications.” (Updated October 2006) Submission
to the Standing Committee on Social Policy Bill 118
Hospitality Accessibility Checklist www.gtha.com/dsp_HospCheckLst.cfm Disability Sensitivity Training Program Ontario Human Rights Commission:
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