NDP: Ford's Conservatives failing to uphold accessibility legislation

THUNDER BAY - NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay—Superior North), Official Opposition critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities, expressed deep concerns over reports that the Conservatives are failing to enforce accessibility legislation and will likely fail to meet the targets outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by 2025:

"It comes as no surprise that the Conservative government is ignoring accessibility complaints and failing to enforce the law. Just last month, Ford's Conservatives were exposed for withholding the fourth AODA report from the public, which shows accessibility in Ontario is in a 'crisis' state.

Hiring just 20 employees to monitor the compliance of 400,000 organizations and ensure they meet accessibility guidelines is ludicrous. It's no wonder that nothing meaningful has been done in six years. Repeatedly, Ford's Conservatives show us how little they care about people with disabilities.

It's time for the Conservative government to get off its hands, end this pattern of negligence and take serious measures to ensure that Ontario is fully accessible by 2025."