SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
April 5, 2023 09:00AM
  • Apr/5/23 11:30:00 a.m.

I’d like to thank the hard-working member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry for the important question. Making Ontario accessible is an ongoing journey. Thanks to the leadership of the Minister of Finance, we are proposing over $6 million over the next three years to support students with disabilities. This marvellous investment will provide for skills development and education opportunities.

Together with the Ministry of Labour, our government is also promoting employment programs for people with disabilities. We are working for you to build a better Ontario together.

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  • Apr/5/23 11:30:00 a.m.

My question is for the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. Identifying, preventing and removing barriers for people with disabilities helps to create an Ontario that is accessible and inclusive for everyone. While Ontario has a robust framework to advance accessibility, there is still much more work to be done.

We look to reviews previously undertaken by leading advocates regarding Ontario’s progress in implementing measures to make Ontario more accessible. Review findings reveal that there are areas that need urgent action in order for our province to be a leader in accessibility and inclusion. Our government should ensure that programs and policies reflect the values of respect and inclusion as we move forward.

Can the minister please explain how our government will continue to advance accessibility across our province?

Municipalities across our province must be committed to providing services and facilities that are accessible to all persons with disabilities. Each community is best positioned to identify specific programs that will benefit their residents.

Local governments are making commendable efforts to meet the needs of their communities to continue to improve accessibility and to comply with the requirements under the legislation.

Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how our government is supporting municipalities to deliver on their accessibility goals?

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  • Apr/5/23 4:20:00 p.m.
  • Re: Bill 91 

Thank you to the member for her presentation. In this Bill 91, we actually talked about updating the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008.

You just mentioned in your response to my colleague that you want to be focused on people and ODSP. So my question to you is, in reforming this plan, it will make Ontario’s developmental services system more responsive and directly linked to people’s needs. I would have to think the member would want to support that. Can we count on your vote?

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