accessibility for ontarians with disabilities …€¦ · web view · 2016-02-20in the 2014...

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE

A Premier's Promise to Ontarians with Disabilities Not Kept - A Disability Accessibility Analysis of Premier Wynne's September 25, 2014 "Mandate Letters" to Each Ontario Cabinet Minister

October 7, 2014

I. Overview, Analysis and Conclusions

On September 25, 2014, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne wrote all her Cabinet Ministers to give them their marching orders. These are set out in "Mandate Letters to each Minister" that lists that Minister's work priorities. These Mandate Letters give us and the public a unique glimpse into the Government’s plans for the next months and years. In this Analysis, we show that Premier Wynne has systematically left out of these Mandate Letters many if not most of her Government's duties and commitments to Ontarians with disabilities on the subject of disability accessibility.

From the perspective of over 1.8 million Ontarians with disabilities, this is deeply troubling for four reasons. First, Premier Wynne promised in writing during the 2014 election to direct her Ministers and other senior officials to fulfil the Government's duties and commitments on disability accessibility. Second, when running for leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, Kathleen Wynne promised in writing to keep all her Government's commitments on disability accessibility.

Third, the Ontario Liberal Government has a troubling track record of keeping only some, but clearly not all of its promises on disability accessibility. Finally, Ontario is now clearly behind schedule for becoming fully accessible by 2025. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requires the Government to lead Ontario to full accessibility by 2025. We need the Government to speed up action on accessibility, not side-line it as a low priority.

We call on Premier Wynne to keep her word. We urge her to write each key Cabinet Minister to identify for them the key disability accessibility duties and commitments for which they have lead responsibility.

In this analysis we first summarize our findings. We then review the Premier's Mandate Letters from a disability accessibility perspective. Finally, we link to key documents that support our analysis.

1. The Frustrating Problem Facing Ontarians with Disabilities

For years, Ontarians with disabilities, numbering over 1.8 million, have faced enormously frustrating problems with the Ontario Government, especially since 2005. It has often been very difficult getting the Government to consistently and reliably keep its commitments to us and its legal responsibilities on disability accessibility.

Some of the Government's duties and commitments on disability accessibility have been commendably honoured, and in a timely fashion. Yet far too many have not been kept at all, even years after they were made. For others, action on them has been hugely delayed. Especially since 2011, we have had to fight battle after battle to secure any progress. This is documented in exquisite detail in the AODA Alliance's 368-page June 30, 2014 Brief to the Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which the Government appointed University of Toronto Dean Mayo Moran to conduct. The AODA Alliance's June 30, 2014 brief to the Mayo Moran AODA Independent Review is available at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06302014-Final-Brief-Mayo-Moran-AODA.doc

In the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Ontario provincial elections, and at various times between these elections, the Government has made a series of important promises to Ontarians with disabilities about disability accessibility. In her December 3, 2012 letter to the AODA Alliance, written while she was running to become the next leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Kathleen Wynne pledged to keep all the Liberal Ontario Government's past promises on disability accessibility. Kathleen Wynne's December 3, 2012 letter to the AODA Alliance is available at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/12032012.asp

Since Kathleen Wynne became Ontario's Premier early in 2013, her Government has made additional pledges on disability accessibility, including during the recent 2014 Ontario election.

As our brief to the Mayo Moran AODA Independent Review shows, we have been concerned for years that Ontario's Premier has not consistently directed his or her Cabinet Ministers to keep all the Government's promises on disability accessibility. If this direction is not given, there is a high risk that Cabinet Ministers will not keep those promises. They will get busy with other priorities that they consider more pressing.

2. Premier Wynne's 2014 Election Promise to Instruct Her Cabinet Ministers to Take Action on the Government's Duties and Promises on Disability Accessibility

In the 2014 Ontario election, this problem led the AODA Alliance to ask the major parties to promise, if elected, to direct their cabinet ministers and senior officials to fulfil the Government's duties and promises on disability accessibility. Commendably, Kathleen Wynne promised to do this. In her May 14, 2014 letter to the AODA Alliance, setting out the Government’s disability accessibility election pledges, Premier Wynne promised:

“If we win the honour of re-election, our government will continue to implement our accessibility obligations and commitments. This includes directing Cabinet Ministers and senior public officials to implement accessibility obligations and commitments.”

Premier Wynne's May 14, 2014 letter to the AODA Alliance is available at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06132014.asp

3. Promise Not Kept – The Premier’s September 25, 2014 "Mandate Letters to

http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06132014.asp


http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06302014-Final-Brief-Mayo-Moran-AODA.doc

http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06302014-Final-Brief-Mayo-Moran-AODA.doc

Each Ontario Cabinet Minister

On September 25, 2014, Premier Wynne sent a "Mandate Letter" to each Minister in her Cabinet. In a Mandate Letter the Premier instructs a Cabinet Minister on which actions and issues are priorities for that Minister. The Mandate Letter is the top marching orders for that Minister and his or her Ministry. A busy Minister and Ministry can easily become absorbed in and distracted by a blizzard of tasks and issues. The Mandate Letter lets them know what issues and action must secure their top attention.

The Premier's September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters, taken together, fill fully 100 pages of text. Premier Wynne’s September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters can be found at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03102014-ontario-government-minister-mandate-letters.doc

It is commendable that for the first time, Premier Wynne made these newest September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters public. This lets one and all see what the Government plans to do. These Mandate Letters are chock full of detailed specifics, not mere vague platitudes. Taken together, they reveal the Government's core agenda for the next months, if not years.

To assist the Government, we recently wrote the Premier and ten Cabinet Ministers in charge of the key Ministries responsible for the Government's duties and promises on disability accessibility. For each of them, we set out a manageable clear list of priority actions for them on disability accessibility. We tried wherever possible to link these specific priorities to the requirements in the AODA, and to Government disability accessibility promises. We sent copies of these letters to Premier Wynne, so she would have the full picture. Links to each of these letters are set out at the end of this Analysis. These letters were intended to help Premier Wynne formulate her Mandate Letters.

Premier Wynne's Government has said over and over that disability accessibility is a "top priority" for it. For example, her lead Minister responsible for implementing and enforcing the AODA solemnly declared this in the Ontario Legislature on May 28, 2013, to honour National Access Awareness Week. The Government's declaration that disability accessibility is a "top priority" can be seen at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/05292013.asp

This makes it especially important to take a close look at Premier Wynne's September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters to her Cabinet Ministers. Here is what we found:

a) Premier’s Mandate Letters Systematically Leave out Many if not Most of the Government's Disability Accessibility Duties and Promises As detailed below letter-by-letter, Premier Wynne's Mandate Letter to each Cabinet Minister, systematically leave out many if not most of the Government’s duties and pledges on disability accessibility. The most substantive directions on point she gives are to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure regarding the development of new accessibility standards under the AODA (addressed further below), and her direction to the Minister Responsible for the 2015 Toronto Pan/ParaPan American Games to develop a plan for a legacy


http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03102014-ontario-government-minister-mandate-letters.doc

http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03102014-ontario-government-minister-mandate-letters.doc

of increased accessible tourism services after the 2015 Games.

There is nothing in these Mandate Letters about enforcement of the AODA, or to ensure that new physical or information technology infrastructure is accessible, or to ensure that public money is never used to create or perpetuate barriers against people with disabilities. There is nothing in the Mandate Letters to re-engineer the Ontario Public Service's approach to disability accessibility, to ensure that it becomes an accessible employer and service provider.

In one especially vexing instance, the Premier’s Mandate Letter explicitly diluted a key promise that she made to Ontarians with disabilities a mere four months earlier, during the 2014 election campaign. As detailed further below, in the 2014 election campaign, Premier Wynne wrote us to promise that her Government would develop accessibility standards to address barriers in education and/or health care. Later during the election campaign, speaking for her Government, one of her Cabinet Ministers, Yasir Naqvi, made a stronger commitment on the Government's behalf. He tweeted us that the Government would develop accessibility standards to address barriers in both education and health care.

Yet in her September 25, 2014 Mandate Letter to the Minister responsible for developing AODA accessibility standards, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, Premier Wynne back-tracked and diluted this. She instructed Minister Duguid to "explore options to develop new accessibility standards in the education or health sector.” We here emphasize her using the word “or,” not “and,” or even “and/or.”

If the Premier had only left out 25% of her Government's disability accessibility pledges and duties from these Mandate Letters, this could be written off as a mere oversight. In that case, it might have been justified by virtue of the Government's covering a large majority of them in the Mandate Letters. That is, sadly, not the case here.

This omission is systemic and systematic. It results either from a deliberate decision to marginalize promises to Ontarians with disabilities, or a staggering obliviousness to disability accessibility concerns. Either would be very troubling.

b) Mandate Letters Systematically Miss Other Excellent Opportunities for the Government to Fulfil its Accessibility Duties and Pledges

As is also detailed below letter-by-letter, the Premier has also systematically missed a good number of other opportunities to build accessibility into assignments she gives to her key Cabinet Ministers. For example, the Premier did not direct the Ministers of Education, or of Training, Colleges and Universities, or of Children and Youth Services, to work towards achieving a fully accessible education system in Ontario by 2025 (which the AODA requires). Similarly, the Premier's Mandate Letter to the Minister of Health does not instruct him to set as a priority ensuring that Ontario's health care system becomes fully accessible to people with disabilities by 2025 (a goal which the AODA also requires). As well, the Premier's Mandate Letter to the Minister of Transportation does not direct that Minister to ensure that Ontario's transportation system becomes fully accessible by 2025 (also required by the AODA). These instructions are systematically left out of these Mandate Letters, even though the Premier's Mandate Letters to

these Ministers include directions on leadership in the development of Ontario's education system, health care system and transportation system of the future.

The Premier's Mandate Letter to the Education Minister issues directions regarding the acquisition of future technology to be used in classrooms across Ontario. Again missing an obvious opportunity for progress on accessibility, that Mandate Letter does not direct the Minister to ensure that this new classroom technology is accessible. Similarly, the Premier's Mandate Letter to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities instructs that Minister to treat as a priority the expansion of online learning opportunities. Yet it does not instruct the Minister to ensure that these online learning opportunities are designed to be disability-accessible.

These glaring omissions ignore the Government’s 2011 election promise to ensure that future information technology infrastructure is disability-accessible. They also ignore the Government’s 2014 election promise not to use public money to create or perpetuate disability barriers. Capping this off, they ignore the Government's 2011 election promise to make incorporate disability accessibility in vital Government decisions affecting Ontarians.

If the Premier does not include these accessibility measures in her Mandate Letters, we cannot assume that Cabinet Ministers will each treat them as priorities. Our past experience shows that we must assume the opposite. As our June 30, 2014 brief to the Mayo Moran AODA Independent Review amply shows, the Ontario Government has over and over again failed to show this kind of effective leadership on accessibility, despite promising to lead by example on the issue of disability accessibility.

c) A Breath-Taking Double Standard

In these Mandate Letters, over 1.8 million Ontarians with disabilities, and the Government's duties and promises to them on accessibility, are relegated to a cruel second-class posture among Government priorities. The recurring omission or downplaying of the Government's disability accessibility duties and promises stands in marked contrast to the Government's more commendable treatment of other equality-seeking groups in these Mandate Letters.

For example, in sharp contrast to the second-class treatment of people with disabilities, in her Mandate Letters the Premier commendably told Minister after Minister that it is a specific priority for them to incorporate the needs and concerns of Ontario's First Nations in important parts of the Minister's and Ministry's work. As well, the Premier commendably directed the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues "to ensure that a gender lens is brought to government strategies, policies and programs."

At the Cabinet table, there is a Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, a Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, a Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, a Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, and a Minister of Citizenship responsible for needs of newcomers to Ontario. Yet, there is no Minister Responsible for People with Disabilities. For four years, The Government has ignored the recommendation of the 2010 Charles Beer Independent Review of the AODA. It had recommended that such a Minister be designated.

The Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure is responsible for implementing and enforcing the AODA. However, he is not responsible for overall oversight of disability issues across Government.

Moreover, the Premier's specific Mandate Letter to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure is especially troubling. It assigns so many other massive duties for the Minister and Ministry, while taking an impoverished approach to that Minister’s mandate regarding the AODA. There is now a high risk that our concerns will get far less attention by the Minister and Deputy Minister, whose plates are piled up to overflowing by the Premier's Mandate Letter that to that Minister.

In February 2013, we applauded the Premier's decision to move the Accessibility Directorate from the Ministry of Community and Social Services (where it had not properly belonged) to the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment. To date, that transition has not gone well. It has not served people with disabilities very well.

To make matters even more challenging, in the summer 2014 Cabinet shuffle, the Premier has added infrastructure to this Ministry's mandate. It would be great if this led the Government to far more effectively embed accessibility considerations in its infrastructure spending. However, after reading Premier Wynne’s Mandate Letter to that Minister, we now see that there is a much greater likelihood that the Accessibility Directorate and accessibility concerns will be eclipsed and dwarfed in the huge, amalgamated Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, which Brad Duguid now leads.

The Premier's Mandate Letters include a number of helpful measures, as are referred to in our letter-by-letter analysis. We are not saying that the Government is proposing to do nothing for people with disabilities. However, we are deeply concerned that key legal duties and promises to us are being marginalized.

d) A Loud, Clear Wrong Message from Ontario's Premier

Taken together, these Mandate Letters send a loud, clear message to Ontario's Cabinet Ministers. It is a message which is very harmful and hurtful for Ontarians with disabilities.

This message is as follows: the Government's duties and promises to Ontarians with disabilities on accessibility are not a priority for the Government, no matter how many times it has said that accessibility is a top Government priority. Even if a specific Government promise on disability accessibility falls squarely within a Minister's responsibility, it is, for the most part, not a priority for that Minister or for his or her Ministry. The Government will make great pledges to Ontarians with disabilities on accessibility during and between elections. However, when the moment of truth comes -- when the Premier hands out public marching orders to each Cabinet Minister -- these promises are mostly rhetoric for public consumption, rather than plans for actual Government action.

The fact that Each Mandate Letter includes a qualification after it lists specific priorities, is no

cure for this problem. Each Mandate Letter states near the end:

“The above list of priority initiatives is not meant to be exhaustive, as there are many other responsibilities that you and your ministry will need to carry out. To that end, this mandate letter is to be used by your ministry to develop more detailed plans for implementation of the initiatives above, in addition to other initiatives not highlighted in this letter.”

This does not solve the problem now facing people with disabilities, thanks to these Mandate Letters. Despite this boilerplate paragraph in each Mandate Letter, each Minister and Ministry will unquestionably dedicate their attention and priority to the measures that each Mandate Letter declares are the Government's "specific priorities." A Minister and Ministry, looking at our letters to them on disability accessibility, will look to see if the Premier's Mandate Letter directs them to take the actions we list. If the Mandate Letter from the Premier does not do so, we can expect a Minister and Ministry not to treat our listed actions as priorities, even if they happen to arise from specific written promises to us from the Government's leadership.

We have unfortunate experience with Minister after Minister ducking their disability accessibility duties and the Government’s promises. On December 2, 2011, shortly after the 2011 election, we wrote seven Ontario Cabinet Ministers to identify disability accessibility priorities for them and their Ministries. Each wrote us back over the next weeks. In virtually all responses sent to us, the Ministers ducked or ignored our requests and simply recited their Government’s past record on accessibility. To read the largely evasive responses of seven Ontario Cabinet Ministers to our December 2, 2011 letters, proposing accessibility priorities for their Ministries, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/05042012.asp

e) Ontarians with Disabilities Need Action Now

The AODA requires the Ontario Government to lead Ontario to become fully accessible to people with disabilities by 2025. Our June 30, 2014 brief to the Mayo Moran AODA Independent Review demonstrates that Ontario now lags behind schedule for full accessibility by 2025. We need the Government to take the actions we identified in writing over the last weeks for the Premier and her Cabinet, to get Ontario back on schedule.

Kathleen Wynne promised Ontarians with disabilities in her December 3, 2012 letter to the AODA Alliance that she would ensure that Ontario is on schedule for full accessibility by 2025. We need Premier Wynne to immediately write each Cabinet Minister, to direct them to take the actions we have identified on disability accessibility. She needs to make it clear that these are at least equal in priority to those measures listed in her September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters. It should be made clear that her directions on disability accessibility should not be viewed as any lower in priority by virtue of the fact that they were not included in her September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters.

She should immediately make any such letters to her Cabinet Ministers on disability accessibility public. She should post them alongside her September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters.

We also need Premier Wynne to take all the 14 other that we asked of her in our September 19,


2014 letter to her. These are set out below.

In each of her September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters, Premier Wynne pledges: “We want to be the most open and transparent government in the country." Failure to take the actions we here propose would undermine both that commitment and Premier Wynne's pledge to ensure that Ontario is on schedule for full accessibility by 2025.

II. Our Detailed Letter-by-Letter Analysis of Premier Wynne's September 25, 2014 Mandate Letters to Ontario Cabinet Ministers

In the following letter-by-letter analysis, we first review our September 9, 2014 letter to Premier Wynne. We discover whether she took the 14 actions on disability accessibility that we identified for her. We then review the Premier's Mandate Letters to the ten Ministers to whom we recently sent letters to identify our disability accessibility priorities. Finally, we review the Premier's Mandate Letters to certain other Cabinet Ministers to whom we had not written, but who are in a position to help make progress on disability accessibility.

1. Action in the Mandate Letters on Our Specific Requests of Premier Wynne

What We Asked the Premier to Do Regarding Disability Accessibility

In our September 19, 2014 letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne, we asked the Premier to:

1. issue a written direction to the Secretary of the Cabinet, and to all cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and associate deputy ministers, that all the Government's accessibility commitments since taking office in 2003 are official Government policy and are to be fulfilled

2. designate which Minister and Ministry has responsibility for each Government commitment on accessibility

3. direct the Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Minister to immediately make public, implement and publicly report on the results of a comprehensive plan to effectively enforce all AODA obligations in connection with all obligated organizations

4. direct the Government's other ministries with inspectors, auditors and other enforcement officials under other legislation, to cooperate with a plan, to be implemented now, to cross-designate those inspectors, investigators and other enforcement officials to also serve as AODA directors and inspectors

5. direct the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to immediately direct the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council (ASAC) to develop proposals for new AODA accessibility standards to address barriers in education, in health care, and in residential housing

6. direct the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to develop all other AODA accessibility standards, needed to ensure that Ontario reaches full accessibility by

2025, and to announce an action plan and timetable to ensure that this is achieved during this term of the Government

7. direct the cabinet to develop, implement, enforce and widely publicize effective across-the-board policies and practices to ensure that the public’s money is never used to finance barriers against persons with disabilities, especially in the areas of infrastructure, procurement, research, innovation or other business grant or loan spending. This effort should be led by the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, the Minister of Government and Consumer Services, the Minister of Research and Innovation, and the Treasury Board President. The secretary of the Cabinet should be directed to devise an action plan to ensure that this is embedded across the Ontario Public Service

8. direct the Minister responsible for the Pan/ParaPan American Games, working together with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, to immediately implement and widely publicize a strong plan for an enduring legacy of substantially improved disability accessibility, for the 2015 Toronto Pan/ParaPan American Games. This should include, among other things, strategies to substantially improve the range of accessible tourism and hospitality services, to educate school children on accessible sports, and to substantially increase accessible athletics and sport opportunities for persons with disabilities of all ages

9. designate one cabinet minister, apart from the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, to be responsible for keeping all the Government's accessibility commitments and fulfilling all its accessibility obligations (apart from the Government's duty to develop and enforce AODA accessibility standards)

10. direct the Secretary of the Cabinet to implement effective strategies to ensure the Ontario Public Service becomes a fully accessible employer and service provider, and to ensure that disability accessibility is embedded in all vital Government decisions

11. create a full time deputy minister or associate deputy minister position with lead responsibility for ensuring that the Ontario Public Service becomes a fully accessible workplace and service provider

12. direct the Secretary of the Cabinet to require each Ministry’s Accessibility Lead be made a full time position, reporting to the deputy minister of that Ministry, with needed accessibility expertise

13. direct the Attorney General and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister to prepare and introduce an omnibus bill to address barriers impeding voters and candidates with disabilities in provincial and municipal elections, after designating one of those ministers with responsibility to lead this project

14. Direct the Attorney General and the Government and Consumer Services Minister, who are jointly responsible for this review, to dramatically speed up the promised review of all Ontario statutes and regulations, to make public a work plan for completing this entire review by the end of 2015, and to bring forward an omnibus bill to the Legislature at the beginning of 2015 to

address barriers found in any laws reviewed to that point.

What the Premier Did

Premier Wynne did not act at all on fully 13 of our 14 specific requests of her. She took only partial action on only one, Request No. 8 regarding the 2015 Toronto Pan/ParaPan American Games. She directed the Minister Responsible for the 2015 Games to develop a legacy of improved accessibility of tourism services. She did not direct that the 2015 Games’ legacy on accessibility include any other elements that we presented to the Government one year ago, on October 1, 2013.

2. Mandate Letters to Cabinet Ministers to Whom the AODA Alliance Earlier Wrote to Propose Disability Accessibility Priorities

a) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

What We Asked the Minister to Do Regarding Disability Accessibility

This minister is responsible for the effective implementation and enforcement of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In our August 14, 2014 letter to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, we asked him to:

1. immediately announce, implement and account to the public on a strong, detailed plan for effectively enforcing the AODA

2. develop and promptly enact the next accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

3. effectively ensure that in any government infrastructure spending, no barriers against Ontarians with disabilities are created or perpetuated

4. incorporate disability accessibility in all his ministry’s economic development and employment strategies, programs and initiatives

5. ensure that the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American games leave behind a substantial legacy of disability accessibility

6. launch an effective public education campaign on disability accessibility and the AODA’s requirements

In the Mandate Letter for the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, Premier Wynne included:

7. promptly make public and respond to the forthcoming report of the Moran AODA

independent review.

The Mandate Letter’s Key Directions to View from a Disability Accessibility Perspective

Premier Wynne’s September 25, 2014 Mandate Letter to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure included, as specific priorities, the following, among other things:

* "Continuing to work with partner ministers and industry to explore initiatives to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens, as proposed in the Better Business Climate Act, 2014. If the legislation is passed, I ask that you begin to work with key partners to develop regional cluster plans. Your goal is to adopt smarter regulatory practices without putting public safety at risk….”

* “Increasing the number of employment opportunities for Ontarians of all abilities by establishing new partnerships with business and persons with disabilities.”

* “Working with partners to build an accessible Ontario by 2025. I ask that you explore options to develop new accessibility standards in the education or health sector.”

Our Comments

This lengthy, detailed mandate letter is especially troubling for people with disabilities. The Premier did not direct this Minister to ensure that all needed steps are taken to ensure that Ontario gets back on schedule for full accessibility by 2025, as the AODA requires.

The Premier gave the Minister no directions whatsoever to enforce the AODA. This is a key priority for Ontarians with disabilities. For example, the Premier did not direct this Minister to immediately make public a plan for the AODA’s enforcement, and to report to the public on progress, as the Government promised in the 2014 election. The Premier did not direct this Minister to establish a toll-free phone line for the public to report disability accessibility barriers, as the Government also promised in the 2014 election.

This glaring omission is especially troubling since we revealed almost a year ago, on November 18, 2013, that the Government had failed in its duty to effectively enforce the AODA, despite the Government knowing of rampant AODA violations in the private sector. To learn more about our November 18, 2013 revelation of the fact that the Government was not effectively enforcing the AODA despite knowing that 70% of private sector organizations with at least 20 employees were in violation of the AODA, visit http://is.gd/NqCTEU

The Government has promised several times to effectively enforce the AODA. To see the Government’s commitments on the AODA’s effective enforcement on the day the AODA passed Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature, visit http://is.gd/GtFojV In this Mandate letter, the Premier cuts back on the Government’s earlier commitments on the development of new accessibility standards. We have asked the Government to develop new

http://is.gd/GtFojV

http://is.gd/NqCTEU

accessibility standards next to address barriers in education, in health care, and in residential housing.

In July 2009, the Government promised to address barriers in residential housing through the standards development process, once the Government finished creating its initial Built Environment Accessibility Standard to address barriers in new construction and major renovations. That project was completed, according to the Government, in December 2013. Yet despite this, the Government has not embarked on addressing barriers in residential housing through the AODA standards development process.

As for addressing the areas of education and health in AODA accessibility standards, Premier Wynne initially promised during the spring 2014 Election that the next AODA accessibility standard would address education and/or health. In her May 14, 2014 letter to us, setting out the Government’s accessibility pledges in the 2014 election, Premier Wynne wrote:

“The next accessibility standard we will develop will focus on education and/or health.”

Two weeks after the Premier wrote us during the election campaign, we received a stronger election commitment from the Liberal Party. On May 31, 2014, we received two tweets from Ontario Liberal candidate, Cabinet minister, and former president of the Ontario Liberal Party, Yasir Naqvi. He said that a Liberal Government, if re-elected, would create a standard for both health care and education. His two May 31, 2014 tweets, separately sent to both the AODA Alliance and to its chair, David Lepofsky, stated:

"Yasir Naqvi: @DavidLepofsky Yes, the next accessibility standard a re-elected @OntLiberal will develop will focus on education and health standards."

And

"Yasir Naqvi: @aodaalliance Yes, the next accessibility standard a re-elected @OntLiberal will develop will focus on education & health standards."

We immediately made this public. We announced this development on Twitter and in our May 31, 2014 AODA Alliance Update. We stated:

"Tweets are on the public record. We will hold the Liberal Party to this new, strengthened commitment. We know the parties track Twitter activity on the election, including ours."

We immediately and repeatedly tweeted back to confirm this both to Mr. Naqvi and to Premier Wynne. No one denied or tried to walk back this stronger commitment. We hold the Government to it.

Now, in this Mandate Letter, Premier Wynne back-tracks. She directs the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to select either health care or education. That cuts back on what the Premier wrote us during the 2014 election. It is less than what Minister Naqvi tweeted us on behalf of the Government. People with disabilities should not have to face a cruel

choice between access to education but not health care, or access to health care but not education.

It is worrisome that in imposing a duty on the Minister to lead efforts at reducing regulations on business, this Mandate Letter does not direct that accessibility regulations, such as those enacted under the AODA, are to be exempted from any cuts, to keep the Government’s promise to not cut any accessibility gains we have made to date.

b) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Government and Consumer Services


In our September 12, 2014 letter to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services, David Orazietti, we asked the Minister to:

1. establish a new effective strategy for ensuring that the Ontario public service becomes a barrier-free, accessible employer and service provider, including a) implementing a system for monitoring implementation of accessibility across the Ontario public service b) strengthen the position of the accessibility lead in each ministry

2. establish a full time deputy minister or associate deputy minister responsible for the accessibility of the Ontario public service

3. ensure the Ontario government only procures goods, services and facilities that are accessible or that will be made accessible

4. promptly complete the government's review of all Ontario legislation and regulations for disability barriers.


The Premier’s September 25, 2014 Mandate Letter for the Minister of Government and Consumer Services included in its list of specific priorities for that Ministry:

* “I ask that you collaborate with ministers to ensure that the OPS is working to become more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible at all levels.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter’s vague reference to “accessible” makes no reference to disability accessibility. As such, the Minister will not read this letter as directing the Minister to take any of the specific action which has been promised to us, or which we otherwise need.

c) Mandate Letter for the Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games


In our August 28, 2014 letter to the Minister responsible for the Pan/ParaPan American Games Michael Coteau, we asked the Minister to:

1. announce an effective and comprehensive plan for an enduring and substantial disability accessibility legacy for the 2015 Toronto Pan/ParaPan American Games.

2. announce that no events having any connection with the Games will be held in a venue or at an organization that does not provide full disability accessibility.

3. strongly encourage all 2015 Games employees and volunteers to frequent and use only the services of restaurants and other tourism services that have full accessibility for persons with disabilities.

4. now launch a major strategy to ensure that there will be sufficient accessible transit and transportation services to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands who are expected at the Games.

The Mandate Letter’s Key Disability Directions

The Premier’s September 25, 2014 Mandate Letter to the Minister responsible for the 2015 Toronto Games included, in its list of specific priorities, the following:

* “Fostering Partnership, Community Engagement and Inclusion

Collaborating with the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015), relevant ministers and other partners to develop and implement strategies for community engagement and inclusion.

Working in partnership with Aboriginal communities and leaders to ensure they are successfully connected to the Games.

Continuing to support the volunteer efforts of TO2015. You will seek opportunities to benefit from the talents, skills and diversity of Ontarians by capitalizing on TO2015’s volunteer programs. Your goal is to build strong and caring communities.

Managing Host Jurisdiction Services and Infrastructure

Working closely with relevant ministers, TO2015 and other partners to effectively co-ordinate operational and other matters for the Games. I ask that you focus on capital infrastructure, transportation planning, security, municipal services, health and emergency management, and government co-ordination leading up to and during the Games.”

* “Implementing and Promoting Games Legacies

Implementing the government’s legacy strategy for the Games. This strategy will maximize our investments, leverage longer-term public benefits and ensure support leading up to, during and after the Games.

Enabling increased youth participation in sport and healthy active living.

Building on the Games’ volunteer programs to help connect volunteers with organizations and employment opportunities after the Games.

Working with stakeholders to make Ontario a more accessible and barrier-free tourist destination.”

* “Maximizing the Economic Benefits of the Games

Showcasing Ontario to an international audience and creating economic opportunities through jobs, tourism and strategic investments. The Games are expected to generate more than 26,000 new jobs, grow our GDP by $3.7 billion — and attract more than 250,000 tourists.

Continuing to work with other ministers and partners to maximize the economic impact of the Games.”

Our Comments

It is good that the Government has finally agreed to develop an accessibility legacy for the 2015 Toronto Games, and that this will include the Government working with stakeholders to make Ontario a more accessible and barrier-free tourist destination. However this comes at least one year late. It also does not include anywhere near the full scope of the comprehensive disability accessibility legacy for the 2015 Games that we proposed one year ago. To read the AODA Alliance’s October 1, 2013 Proposal for A Strong and Lasting Disability Accessibility Legacy for the 2015 Toronto Games, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/10012013.asp

d) Mandate Letter for the Attorney General


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Attorney General of Ontario, Madeleine Meilleur, we asked the Minister to:

1. promptly complete the Government's review of all Ontario legislation and regulations for disability barriers

2. accelerate efforts at making Ontario's courts fully accessible to court participants with disabilities.


3. ensure Ontario elections are fully accessible to voters and candidates with disabilities


The Premier’s September 25, 2014 Mandate Letter to this Minister included the following among that Ministry’s priorities:

* “As the Attorney General, you are responsible for the administration of justice and ensuring a fair and accessible justice system. Equally important is that access to our system of justice must be guaranteed to everyone in our criminal, civil and family courts - and our adjudicative tribunals.

As Chief Law Officer of the Crown, you have a unique role in providing independent legal advice to Cabinet, with a special responsibility as the guardian of the rule of law. You are responsible for ensuring Cabinet is properly advised on the constitutionality and legal risks of all government initiatives. You and your ministry staff will also continue to provide legal advice to all ministries, and to review the conduct of litigation on behalf of the government.”

* “Continuing to focus on the delivery of legislative and systemic initiatives that promote fairness and access to our justice system for Ontarians.

Engaging in discussions within the legal profession about improving access to justice. You will develop a strategy to expand Legal Aid support for the most vulnerable within our society by working to raise the income eligibility threshold to qualify for Legal Aid. Your goal is to ensure that more Ontarians in need are represented by a lawyer through Legal Aid — or have access to the legal supports they may need.”

* “Continuing to modernize and streamline our court services. Your ongoing focus will be on improving access to justice, increasing efficiency and improving services through innovative, low-cost and sustainable changes.”

* “Continuing to work with other partner ministries on family law reform, with a focus on creating a holistic system that promotes family health and access to justice. Your priority will be identifying ways to triage cases at the initial stages. Your goals are to address families that require additional support due to domestic violence, mental health or other concerns — and to ensure families get the help they need as early as possible.”

Our Comments

The Premier did not specifically identify any of the priority actions and promises that we identified for this Minister. The Premier’s Mandate Letter talks in several places about access or access to justice. However the Mandate Letter never ties this to addressing barriers to accessibility that people with disabilities face in the justice system.

e) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Citizenship Immigration and International Trade


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of International Trade, Michael Chan, we asked the Minister to:

1. incorporate disability accessibility as a prominent part of the International Trade Ministry's strategy for economic development and innovation.

2. develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for incorporating disability accessibility as a core focus in the Ministry's international trade agenda and activities.

3. incorporate disability accessibility as a condition of grants and subsidies for economic development, innovation and international trade that the ministry provides to the broader public and the private sectors.

4. take into account whether business representatives have accessible products to sell to the international market, when the Government decides which business leaders are to be invited to join the Government on international trade tours and missions.

5. strengthen Ontario producers of adaptive technology in order to help reach international markets for these products.



* “Maximizing Ontario’s Global Trade Opportunities

Developing a strategy that leverages Ontario’s diversity to ensure better international trade and investment opportunities.

Working with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to establish a ministerial working group. You and the minister will co-chair the group, which will also include the ministers of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Education; Energy; Health and Long-Term Care; Northern Development and Mines; Research and Innovation; Training, Colleges and Universities; Tourism, Culture and Sport and other ministers, as appropriate. The committee’s objective is to ensure strong collaboration and information-sharing — and maximize international trade and foreign investment opportunities.”

* “Expanding the reach of Ontario’s exports — particularly to fast-growing emerging markets — in partnership with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure. You will jointly pursue initiatives that expand the opportunity for Ontario firms to connect with foreign buyers and investors, showcase innovative goods and services, and find new markets. To this end, the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games offer you an opportunity to establish productive

relationships between Ontario’s industries and business delegations from the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter includes none of the actions we sought from this Minister.

f) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Education


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Education, Liz Sandals, we asked the Minister to:

1. support our call for the government to enact an education accessibility standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

2. ensure all Ontario school children receive education on disability accessibility



* “As Minister of Education, your top priority will be implementing Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario. This plan will take public education in Ontario from great to excellent by continually improving learning, so that young people have the talent and skills they need — and are prepared to lead in the global economy.

Ontario’s publicly funded education system is acknowledged as one of the best in the world. I ask that you build on this solid foundation and continue to progress toward a responsive, high-quality and accessible system that is integrated from early learning and child care through to adult education.

By 2025, Ontario will have an education system that seamlessly integrates services from early years to adulthood. Ontario will be a world leader in higher-order skills — such as critical thinking and problem solving — which will allow Ontario to thrive in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

* “Supporting educators in learning so they will be recognized as among the best in the world. You will lead efforts to modernize and expand teacher education into a two-year program, starting in September 2015. The modernized program will include mandatory content that will better prepare teachers for the classrooms of today and tomorrow. That content would include topics such as: using technology in the classroom, literacy and numeracy, mental health and addictions, safe schools, First Nation, Métis and Inuit education and special education.”

* “Continuing to focus on closing achievement gaps for those groups that are at higher risk of not succeeding in school — including Aboriginal students, children and youth in care, students with special education needs and students new to Canada.

Ensuring equity by supporting students through transition periods that we know pose challenges: when students enter kindergarten; when they make the transition to Grade 1; when they move from elementary to secondary school; when they move from secondary school to postsecondary education or the world of work; and when they move between schools or communities.

Supporting students through transitions unique to each student’s circumstances. For example, a youth in care may be transitioning between parents or guardians, and may be changing schools at the same time. Some Aboriginal students may be transitioning from on-reserve schools to the provincial school system. You will recognize these challenging transitions and work collaboratively — both within the education system and with broader public sector partners — to ensure that all students, regardless of circumstances, can be successful and supported.”

* “Ensuring that all children and students develop enhanced mental and physical health and a positive sense of self and belonging. Building on your work to promote equitable, inclusive and accepting school climates.”

Our Comments

This letter directs none of the actions we requested. It is especially striking that this Mandate Letter sets a goal for the education system to achieve by 2025, but does not identify as a goal for the Minister that the education system become fully accessible to people with disabilities by 2025. The AODA requires this.

This Mandate Letter is among the sharpest examples of missed opportunities. It directs the Minister to take action to expand new technologies in the classroom. Yet it does not direct that the Minister must ensure that this new technology is accessible to people with disabilities. This flies in the face of the Government’s 2011 election promise to develop accessible information technology infrastructure. It also violates the Government’s 2014 election promise not to use public money to create or perpetuate barriers against people with disabilities.

g) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Who is Also the Minister of Research and Innovation


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities (who is also the Minister of Research and Innovation), Reza Moridi, we asked the Minister to:

1. support our call for the government to enact an education accessibility standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

2. advocate to self-governing professions to include disability accessibility training for their members

3. ensure disability accessibility is a key focus of research and innovation programs and projects that the Government operates or finances.



As Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

* “As Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, you will work to help Ontario become North America’s leading jurisdiction for talent, skills and training. You will collaborate with colleges, universities, municipalities, training organizations, community organizations, employers, students — and across government to help Ontario develop a modern, forward-looking postsecondary education sector.”

* “Continuing to recognize and meet the needs of diverse groups of learners, including Franco-Ontarians, Aboriginal Peoples, first-generation students, persons with disabilities and students with special needs through an equitable system of supports. I ask that you give Ontarians the support they need to be successful in our economy, including help as they transition from high school to postsecondary education and the workplace.”

* “Ensuring an Accessible, High-Quality and Sustainable Postsecondary Education System”

* “Balancing government stewardship of postsecondary education with institutional leadership. Your goal is to continue to build a postsecondary education system that is both high-quality and sustainable. I ask that you strengthen transparency and accountability between the government, institutions and the public.

Focusing on key outcomes for students, institutions and the economy. You will work with our sector partners — including colleges, universities and employers — to assess key outcomes, including the labour market readiness and success of graduates. I ask that you recognize the unique roles that Ontario’s colleges, universities and private career colleges play in fostering our province’s diverse talent and future prosperity.

Working with postsecondary institutions and the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario to improve the consistency and availability of institution-level and system-level outcome measures. These measures will help inform the allocation of graduate spaces, updated program approval processes and the implementation of a reformed funding model for universities. Your goal is to drive differentiation in the postsecondary education sector and to uphold the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.”

* “Ensuring that the new Ontario Online initiative is able to offer online courses for credit, beginning in 2015. Your goal is to improve system quality and increase options for students.”

* “Collaborating with the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy and other relevant ministers to focus resources on those who need them most — including persons receiving social assistance, persons with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, Aboriginal Peoples, newcomers and at-risk youth — as part of the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. You will continue to engage a broad range of stakeholders and partners, including municipalities and service delivery agents, throughout this work.”

* “Introducing a new, more consistent approach to assessing clients’ unique barriers to employment and tracking clients’ journeys through the system.”

As Minister of Research and Innovation

* “Working to maintain and strengthen Ontario’s flagship research program, the Ontario Research Fund, by managing new investments of $250 million over the next three years.”

* “Continuing to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the province through initiatives such as the Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund and the Youth Investment Accelerator Fund.”

* “Identifying opportunities for targeted investments in research infrastructure, such as the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.”

* “Working with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure and the Minister of Finance to explore options for improving government investments that support business research and development.

* Collaborating with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, and partner ministries, to develop and deliver sector strategies. You will focus on sectors with a strong culture of innovation, such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, and information and communications technology.

Working closely with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to implement the Jobs and Prosperity Fund. Your goal is to ensure the government takes a strategic approach to identifying business investments that focus on innovation and productivity improvements — and to explore opportunities for funding early-stage demonstration projects.

Advising your Cabinet colleagues on how best to incorporate an innovation lens into their policy submissions and initiatives.

Supporting initiatives led by partner ministries to help increase innovation within the public service and broader public sector — and provide new opportunities for Ontario’s innovators and entrepreneurs. You will provide input on areas such as improving the effectiveness of the government procurement system, Open Government and implementation of the Youth Jobs

Strategy.”

Our Comments

These Mandate Letters direct none of the actions that we requested. They illustrate excellent opportunities where disability accessibility could have been integrated into Ministry activities. Instead it was so often left out.

For example, it instructs the Minister: “Your goal is to continue to build a postsecondary education system that is both high-quality and sustainable.” By not including “accessibility for people with disabilities,” it misses the mark. This Minister should have been directed to ensure that Ontario’s post-secondary educational institutions are on schedule to become fully accessible to people with disabilities by 2025.

Similarly, it sets as a priority, the Minister’s work on the new Ontario Online initiative. Yet it does not instruct the Minister to ensure that new Online learning infrastructure is fully accessible to students and teachers with disabilities.

Where it identifies sectors of Ontario’s economy to be targeted for economic development and innovation, it does not include the adaptive technology sector, such as the much-needed capacity to develop accessible websites. This sector, if effectively developed, could help serve a world-wide population of up to one billion people with disabilities.

h) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Health and Long Term Care


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Health, Eric Hoskins, we asked the Minister to:

1. support our call for the government to enact a health care accessibility standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

2. ensure that health records in the new eHealth system are fully accessible to people with disabilities.



* “Putting Patients at the Centre — the Right Care, Right Place, Right Time

Ensuring that patients receive timely access to the most appropriate care in the most appropriate place — and that the needs of Ontario’s patients are at the centre of the system. This means care that is appropriately co-ordinated around the person receiving it, especially for those who are

transitioning through and across systems and sectors.”

* “Accelerating the adoption of new health technologies and innovations that demonstrate value and contribute to a more productive and sustainable health care system. You will do so by partnering with the ministers of Research and Innovation, and of Government and Consumer Services — and by continuing to work with the Ontario Health Innovation Council.”

* “Working with the Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs on initiatives that will especially impact seniors.”

* “Delivering on the next phase of the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy to support the delivery of co-ordinated, timely and quality services. You will lead this work — partnering with those across government and across systems — to support healthier, resilient and inclusive communities.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter includes none of the important actions that we have requested. It demonstrates no effort or commitment to achieve a health care system that is fully accessible and barrier-free for people with disabilities by 2025, or ever.

As but one missed opportunity, this Mandate Letter focuses on a priority of new technology for Ontario’s health care system. Yet it does not instruct that the Minister ensure that any such new technology be accessible for people with disabilities.

i) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing


In our September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ted McMeekin, we asked the Minister to:

1. implement effective measures to ensure accessibility of municipal elections to voters and candidates with disabilities

2. show leadership by effectively advocating to the municipal sector on achieving municipal accessibility more broadly

3. support our call for the development of new accessibility standards to address remaining barriers in the built environment

4. effectively publicize the government's recent accessibility amendments to the Ontario building code and providing overdue user guides



* “Undertaking a review of the Long-term Affordable Housing Strategy by 2015-16 to support Realizing Our Potential, Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. You will conduct this review, in collaboration with the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Minister of Community and Social Services, MOHLTC and other relevant ministers. This work will include examining the methods available to measure housing needs and related metrics, and ensuring that the strategy reflects current research and best practices and our goal to end homelessness.”

* “Undertaking a review of the Municipal Elections Act after the 2014 municipal elections. You will ensure that the act meets the needs of communities, and that it provides municipalities with the option of using ranked ballots in future elections, starting in 2018, as an alternative to first-past-the-post.”

* “Reviewing the Building Code to continue to ensure buildings are safe, accessible and cost-effective. You will focus on moving Ontario forward as the North American leader in climate-resistant and environmentally efficient construction.

Amending the Building Code to allow six-storey, wood-frame buildings, which will encourage the construction of mid-rise, mixed-use buildings.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter includes none of the actions we requested. For example, it directs the Minister to address Ontario’s municipal elections legislation, but without keeping the Premier’s 2014 election pledge regarding review of municipal elections to address barriers facing voters with disabilities. It directs the Minister to review the Ontario Building Code for accessibility concerns, without directing that it address retrofit of existing buildings for accessibility, when no renovations are underway. That direction is needed to implement the Government’s July 2009 promise to us.

j) Mandate Letter for the President of Treasury Board


In the AODA Alliance’s September 16, 2014 letter to the President of the Treasury Board, Deb Matthews, we asked the Minister to:

1. implement strong, monitored measures for ensuring that all Ontario Government programs are used effectively to ensure that Ontario becomes fully accessible by 2025.

2. implement effective measures to ensure that no public money is ever used to create or perpetuate barriers against persons with disabilities.



* “Building an Open and Accountable Government

Working to meet our commitment to increase our government's accountability and transparency to the people of Ontario. Under your leadership, the TBS will work with other ministries, agencies and the broader public sector to implement the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, if passed.

Increasing the opportunity for the public, as part of our commitment to open government, to have better access to, learn about and participate in government - and to have their voices as Ontarians heard as we develop policy and undertake planning that affects them. You will lead this effort by working with ministers to develop and advance the Open Government Action Plan, including the ongoing response to the Engagement Team's recommendations.”

* “Building Modern Infrastructure

Ensuring the prioritization — in partnership with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure — and approval of the government’s infrastructure investments while living within the government’s fiscal plan. Public investment in infrastructure is a critical element of our economic plan, which includes more than $130 billion in investment over the next decade in new hospitals, schools, undergraduate campuses, safer roads and public transit. World class infrastructure drives economic growth and prosperity, creates jobs and enhances Ontarians' quality of life."

* “Strategic decisions about our investments must be informed by our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our province. Building on our government’s work under the first strategy, I am honoured to appoint you as Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy and I ask that you oversee the implementation of Ontario’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy: Realizing Our Potential.

Your leadership on this file will include working with our community, businesses and not-for-profit partners to achieve better outcomes for Ontarians living in poverty. Working with your minister colleagues, I ask that you focus on:

Continuing to break the cycle of poverty for children and youth.Enabling persons to move toward employment and income security.Working toward a long-term goal of ending homelessness in Ontario.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter does not direct any of the actions we sought. This is especially troubling since the President of Treasury Board, a new Cabinet post, is in a unique position to influence practices on accessibility across the Government.

For example, this Mandate Letter gives this Minister a leading role on Ontario’s infrastructure spending. We have had enormous difficulties getting the Government to keep past and recent Government commitments to ensure that new construction and renovations funded as infrastructure projects, and new information technology infrastructure, are all accessible.

3. Mandate Letters to Ministers to Whom we Sent No Letter

a) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Community and Social Services



* “As Minister of Community and Social Services, you will provide support to vulnerable Ontarians. You will concentrate on those in financial need — and on people with disabilities and other special needs — so they can participate in our economy and communities. You will also continually engage users of the system and the broader social services sector to identify areas of improvement. Changes will be supported by evidence-based policy and appropriate metrics to measure our progress to ensure transparency and accountability to the people of Ontario.”

* “Transforming Social Assistance and Developmental Services

Driving long-term transformation of the social assistance system. I ask that the changes you implement promote greater independence by improving incomes, encouraging work and enhancing access to core supports outside the social assistance system. You will work with stakeholders, municipalities and other ministries to revise key benefits to improve the accountability and integrity of the social assistance system.

Continuing to transform the delivery of developmental services in Ontario to help adults with developmental disabilities and their families live as independently as possible. This transformation will provide choice and flexibility through direct funding — and within the existing transfer payment agencies and residential services system.”

* “Improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. You will do so in partnership with the enhancements that the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities is making to the employment and training system — and with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure’s engagement with employers.

Working with developmental service agencies to modernize service delivery and continuing to promote the provision of supports that are high-quality, cost-effective and person-centred.

Supporting the work of the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy in implementing Realizing Our Potential, Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Supporting the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the review of the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy and in work toward our government’s goal of ending homelessness.

Collaborating with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and others, as required, to deliver the second phase of Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy. Your goal is to deliver co-ordinated, timely and quality services that support healthy, resilient and inclusive communities.

Continuing work with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Minister of Children and Youth Services and others, as required, to co-ordinate services and supports for children with special needs and their families.”

Our Comments

These are helpful measures. Yet it is simply bizarre that the Premier gives more focus and detail to the Minister of Community and Social Services on creating more employment opportunities than she does in her Mandate Letter to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure (who has lead responsibility for employment, including employment for people with disabilities).

b) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Children and Youth Services



* “Promoting the Mental Health and Well-Being of Ontario’s Children and Youth

Sustaining the accomplishments of the first three years of Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy. You will also work with your partner ministers of Health and Long-Term Care, of Education, and of Training, Colleges and Universities to focus on monitoring the progress of Ontario’s comprehensive mental health and addictions strategy.

Continuing to transform the mental health system so children and youth — and their families — know where to go to receive services, regardless of where they live.

Implementing a provincewide Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative and continuing to reach underserved communities to improve access to mental health supports, including culturally appropriate programs and services for First Nation, Métis, Inuit and Urban Aboriginal children and youth.

Collaborating with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in exploring options on how to improve addictions programming for children and youth, based on evidence, as part of our government’s commitment to create healthy, resilient and inclusive communities.”

* “Supporting Children and Youth with Complex and Special Needs

Focusing on developing and implementing strategies that will improve the experience and outcomes for children and youth with complex and special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Continuing to work with the ministers of Education, of Health and Long-Term Care, and of Community and Social Services — and with families, youth and experts — to implement Ontario’s Special Needs Strategy. The strategy will address long-standing challenges facing families and service providers in the special needs community, including accessing information, navigating services and transitioning to adult services.

Developing and implementing initiatives focused on early identification, early intervention and responsive programs and services for families of children and youth with special needs.”

Our Comments

These priorities are helpful for persons with disabilities. However none displace the need for an Education Accessibility Standard to be created under the AODA, to address barriers to accessibility facing children with disabilities at all levels of Ontario’s education system, including pre-school and early literacy programs.

c) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services



* “Moving Ahead on a Mental Health Strategy

Engaging in a co-ordinated approach and working with community partners, stakeholders and other ministers, consider mental health and substance abuse issues when delivering frontline services — such as emergency response, police services and correctional services. When considering mental health strategies, you will draw upon the recommendations of the Iacobucci report, Police Encounters with People in Crisis.

Considering the mental health of first responders and correctional services staff by continuing to address systemic challenges related to issues such as post traumatic stress disorder.”

Our Comments

These are helpful steps for persons with disabilities. However they do not fulfil the Government’s commitments on disability accessibility.

d) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Labour



* “Continuing to ensure the long-term sustainability of our workers’ compensation system while balancing the interests of injured workers and employers. I ask that you consider such issues as removing the 72-month lock-in provision, enhancing survivor benefits, implementing a long-term strategy to deal with indexation for partially disabled workers — and developing further reforms.”

* “Engaging with companies that have introduced strong workplace mental health programs for their employees to draw upon their experience. Your goal is to work with employers to expand employer-provided services available to Ontario workers.”

Our Comments

These are helpful steps. However they do not fulfil the Government’s commitments on disability accessibility. The Government said in its February 2013 Throne Speech that employment for persons with disabilities is an important priority. It is difficult to understand why the Minister of Labour was not engaged in this topic, even though, as indicated above, the Community and Social Services Minister is.

e) Mandate Letter for the Minister for Seniors' Affairs



* “As Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, you will continue to engage with seniors communities across the province. You will also continue to work with our many stakeholders. They include the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, Alzheimer’s Society, Ontario Retirement Communities Association, Older Adults Centres’ Association of Ontario, Elder Abuse Ontario, Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and Ontario Long-Term Care Association amongst others. You will listen to the voices of seniors and take their views into consideration when shaping policies and programs. You will work with other ministers to bring seniors’ perspectives forward as they develop policies and programs that impact seniors.”

* “Developing clear government policy on community hubs. You will work with the ministers of Health and Long-Term Care, Education, the Associate Minister of Long-Term Care and Wellness and other ministers to consult with stakeholders when developing this policy. I ask that the policy promote the efficient use of public assets and build better ties between schools, municipalities and other community organizations — including those that provide services to seniors.”

* “Providing seniors’ perspectives on housing issues to the ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Health and Long-Term Care.”

* “Supporting Seniors’ Health and Wellness

Working closely with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to ensure that health care services provided in homes and communities reflect the needs of seniors.

Support the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Long-Term Care and Wellness) to develop a strategy on community wellness, including supports and programs to help seniors stay active and healthy.

Advising and supporting the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on improving dementia supports, including new memory clinics.”

Our Comments

These are helpful actions. They provide a powerful illustration of why Ontario also needs a Minister responsible for Disability Issues to be our advocate and watchdog at the Cabinet table. No Minister is given a comparable mandate for people with disabilities that is illustrated here for seniors.

f) Mandate Letter for the Minister of Transportation



* “As Minister of Transportation, you will continue to build better transit and transportation infrastructure across the province. You will support Moving Ontario Forward, our 10-year transit and transportation strategy, which will build better public transit in congested cities and better roads to connect towns and rural and remote communities. Your goal is to make transit and transportation investments that promote economic productivity, enhance quality of life and improve the natural environment — including reducing greenhouse gases.”

* “Building the Next Generation of Transit and Transportation Infrastructure

Collaborating with partner ministers, municipalities, local governments, transit agencies, citizens and experts to build a seamless, provincewide transportation network.”

Our Comments

This Mandate Letter directs the Minister to take very substantial steps towards building Ontario’s future transportation system, with a major focus on public transit. However, as a glaring

omission, it does not direct the Minister to ensure that by 2025, Ontario's public transit system is fully accessible to people with disabilities, as the AODA requires.

At no point does this Mandate Letter direct that accessibility be a factor, much less a key requirement, in the Ministry’s planning for future transportation infrastructure. This flies in the face of the Premier’s May 14, 2014 letter to us, promising that public money will not be used to create or perpetuate barriers against people with disabilities.

III. Key Links

Here is how to find all of the AODA Alliance's letters to the Ontario Government in August and September 2014, listing proposed accessibility priorities:

To read the AODA Alliance's August 14, 2014 letter to Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/08142014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's August 28, 2014 letter to the 2015 Toronto Pan/ParaPan American Games Minister Michael Coteau, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/08282014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 12, letter to the Government and Consumer Services Minister David Orazietti, visit http://www.aoda.ca/aoda-alliance-writes-new-ontario-government-services-minister-to-urge-action-to-make-the-ontario-public-service-a-fully-accessible-workplace-and-provider-of-public-services/

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McMeekin, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09172014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to International Trade Minister Michael Chan, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09192014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to Ontario Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09192014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to Treasury Board President Deb Matthews, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09192014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Education Liz Sandals, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09222014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to the Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Reza Moridi (who is also responsible for Training and Innovation), visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09222014.asp







http://www.aoda.ca/aoda-alliance-writes-new-ontario-government-services-minister-to-urge-action-to-make-the-ontario-public-service-a-fully-accessible-workplace-and-provider-of-public-services/







To read the AODA Alliance's September 16, 2014 letter to the Minister of Health Eric Hoskins, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09222014.asp

To read the AODA Alliance’s September 19, 2014 letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne, visit http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09242014.asp

Here are links to key letters to the AODA Alliance from the Ontario Government, setting out disability accessibility election pledges:

The Ontario Liberal Government's 2014 disability accessibility election pledges are set out in Premier Wynne's May 14, 2014 letter to us, available at: http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/2014-election-pledges-Kathleen-Wynne.asp

Kathleen Wynne's December 3, 2012 letter to the AODA Alliance, setting out her disability accessibility pledges during the Ontario Liberal party leadership race, is available at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/12032012.asp

The Ontario Liberal Government's 2011 disability accessibility election pledges are set out in former Premier McGuinty's August 19, 2011 letter to us, available at: http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/090220111.asp

The Ontario Liberal Government’s 2007 election promises to Ontarians with disabilities are set out in former Premier McGuinty’s September 14, 2007 letter to the AODA Alliance, available at http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/09142007.asp




http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/2014-election-pledges-Kathleen-Wynne.asp

http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/2014-election-pledges-Kathleen-Wynne.asp



accessibility for ontarians with disabilities …€¦ · web view · 2016-02-20in the 2014...

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