The League for Human Rights - Ontarians With Disabilities Sub-Committee
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Edward Rice
Chair OWD-LHR-BBC |
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THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL POLICY
BILL 118 - ACCESSIBILITY for ONTARIANS with DISABILIATIES ACT
INTRODUCTION:
EDDIE RICE
We wish to thank both the Honourable Members of the Ontario Provincial Parliament and the Standing Committee on Social Policy, for this opportunity. I have been the Chair of the Ontarians with Disabilities Sub-Committee of the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada since 1998.
Over the years we have attended and contributed to numerous meetings with all interested parties. Our mutual participation, evaluations and conducting public and government awareness sessions, have brought us to this day. We are extremely delighted that Bill 118 is proceeding and our collective efforts will be brought to fruition. We are confident that these amendment hearings will result in the best possible piece of legislation that all Ontarians deserve, for a barrier free province.
We greatly appreciate the combined efforts of the government, people with disabilities and organizations that have given of their knowledge and experience to BILL 118. Now, we have the occasion to submit our committee’s recommendations to fine-tune BILL 118 for a truly meaningful and strong piece of legislation.
We are submitting nineteen pages of ideas for improvement of designs, recommendations for regulations with photos and drawings. These are submitted for the betterment of all able-bodied people and people with disabilities. We strongly believe that when society is designed with accessibility in mind, all of society benefits.
We realize that 100% of what is needed to improve this legislation, be it technology, design or enhancements to the building code, already exist. What we are striving for is to have these improvements become part of our everyday life. With a complete piece of legislation, our goal can be a reality that all of us have been looking forward to.
Thank you,
EDWARD “Eddie” RICE
CHAIR : OWD – LHR - BBC |
