1  UPDATE - COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

The Accessibility Advisory Committee advises the Community Services and Housing Committee of the following matters having been considered by the Accessibility Advisory Committee with the following action:

PRESENTATIONS

1.  Former Accessibility Advisory Committee member Anwar Yussuf was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. As Mr. Yussuf's schedule does not permit him to attend a future meeting, Chair Wilf Morley will deliver his Certificate and extend the Committee's appreciation.

2.  Committee Chair Wilf Morley introduced newly appointed committee members Zahra Brown and Diane Humeniuk

3.  Cordelia Abankwa-Harris, Director, Policy and Program Support made a presentation regarding the 'Report back from the Michael Lewis Memorial Symposium, Still Waiting: A Forum for Moving Ahead'. Received

4.  Cordelia Abankwa-Harris, Director, Policy and Program Support made a presentation regarding the 'Time Lines and Responsibilities for the Creation of York Region's 2005 Accessibility Plan'. Received

5.  Monica Bryce, Acting Project Manager made a presentation regarding the 'Public Consultation Strategy for the 2005 Accessibility Plan'. Received

COMMUNICATIONS

[The following links open .pdf files of the Communications]

6.  Roland Chenier, Clerk, Town of Georgina, dated June 15, 2004, regarding 'Utility Poles in the Middle of the Walkway along the Queensway'. (P. Cholewa, Project Manager responded to questions from the Committee) Received

7.  Karen Ewart, Administrative Co-ordinator/Deputy Clerk, Town of Aurora, dated July 23, 2004, regarding 'Item 5.ACCESS 04-02 - Committee Record of the Accessibility Advisory Meeting 04-02 held on June 24, 2004'. Received

8.  Anna M. Knowles, Deputy Clerk, Town of East Gwillimbury, dated August 11, 2004, enclosing a resolution of the City of Cornwall regarding 'Ontarians With Disabilities Act Special Funding'

D. Humeniuk disclosed a potential pecuniary interest in this matter as her company is in discussions with various municipalities regarding the development of their accessibility plans. Ms Humeniuk did not participate in discussion or vote on this item.

Committee considered the resolution from the City of Cornwall as follows:

"WHEREAS the Ontarians with Disabilities Act was introduced in 2001 and all municipalities were required to prepare on an annual basis an Accessibility Plan which Plan addresses, identifies and where possible removes all barriers to people with disabilities, and

WHEREAS the Act also legislates municipalities to appoint Committees which may include municipal staff as resource personnel to help with the Plan process, and

WHEREAS the legislation does not include any standard or guideline to be followed yet enforces municipalities to conduct whatever work is required to address all barriers within its municipal Assets, and

WHEREAS due to the diverse disabilities of Committee Members, it has been recognized due to the amount of work involved, that there is a need for the municipality to identify a municipal coordinator who's specific task is to help and coordinate our requirements under the legislation; and where there presently is no provision of any funding to municipalities in order to accomplish its task,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Corporation of the City of Cornwall lobby the Province of Ontario (Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to provide for Special Funding that will help municipalities to employ the staff needed to coordinate our requirement under the legislation and to set, as soon as possible, reasonable standards and guidelines for the advancement of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT these standards and guidelines be consistent throughout the Province"

Committee requests that the Community Services and Housing Committee recommend to Regional Council the endorsement of the resolution of the City of Cornwall.

9.  Nadia Temple, Director, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, dated September 10, 2004, regarding 'Making Accessibility Happen: A Handbook for Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees'. Received

Commissioner Simmons noted the participation of Regional Councillor Danny Wheeler in the development of this Handbook.

10.  Joann Simmons, Commissioner of Community Services and Housing, dated September 13, 2004, regarding 'New Appointments to the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee'. Received

OTHER BUSINESS

11.  Committee Chair Morley advised Committee that they will be receiving further information regarding Pedestrian Countdown Signals and Audible Pedestrian Signals' in the near future.

12.  Chair Morley advised Committee that a meeting of the Chairs of the local Accessibility Advisory Committees will be held on October 7, 2004 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Seminar Room, York Region Headquarters. All members of Committee were invited to attend as observers. Any member of the Committee wishing to add an item to the agenda for this meeting must advise Monica Bryce by September 30, 2004.

13.  Chair Morley reminded Committee members of the e-mail they received regarding the "Inclusion and Accessibility Learning Pilot Session" to be held on Tuesday October 26, 2004 and requested their responses to Monica Bryce by September 24, 2004.

14.  In response to a request from the Committee, a copy of the York Region Transit 5 Year Service Plan and Mobility Plus Application form were circulated to members.

15.  Commissioner Simmons circulated an article from the September 15, 2004 edition of the Toronto Star entitled "Bringing news home for blind – Local news key for new audio service"

The Accessibility Advisory Committee adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

September 22, 2004                                                                           W. Morley

Newmarket, Ontario                                                                            Chair