In her years of advocating for people with disabilities, Alex Wilding says complaints to the province about organizations failing to comply with its accessibility law have gone nowhere.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was meant to remove barriers for those with disabilities to ensure their full participation in society. But the Peterborough community advocate says there's no clear guidance on what recourse citizens have when organizations don't comply.
"It looks nice on paper. It looks impressive ... They can fine an individual $50,000 a day, and if they're a corporation, $100,000 a day for violation of the act... And then you think, OK, how do I start this mechanism?" she said.
"There isn't one," said Wilding, adding phone calls and emails have only led to employees reciting building codes and laws.
Wilding, who has disabilities including depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, is one of many advocates who say a lack of action from the province — from the absence of a complaint system to meaningful enforcement — underpins the AODA's failure. Reviewers appointed by the province have repeatedly pointed to such problems, saying they jeopardize the goal of an accessible Ontario by 2025.
The Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility told CBC Toronto Minister Raymond Cho was unavailable for the interview on this series. In a statement, the ministry said it uses a "modern regulator approach" that ensures organizations understand how to meet their legal obligations under the AODA, which has led to a number of audits and enforcement actions against non-compliant businesses.
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CBC News
January 4, 2024
