Introduction

The purpose of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) is to improve opportunities for people with disabilities in Ontario through the identification, prevention and removal of physical and other barriers that may present barriers to opportunities for people with disabilities to fully participate in society.

Under the ODA, all municipalities in the province

have a legal obligation to prepare an annual accessibility plan. The plan must include a complete overview of all of the municipality's operations including its bylaws, programs, procedures, practices, policies, facilities and services.
This document, Towards Accessibility: York Region's 2007 Accessibility Plan, is the Regional Municipality of York's fourth annual Accessibility Plan under the ODA since 2004. This fourth Plan continues to break down barriers for people with disabilities by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility.
Towards Accessibility highlights barriers that were identified and/or eliminated in 2006 and outlines the actions that the Region will take to identify, prevent and remove remaining barriers across York Region's departments, including York Regional Police.

Back to Top

York Region Facts

The Regional Municipality of York is made up of the following nine local municipalities: Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. This diverse region is a unique combination of urban centres and rural areas that sits on the northern border of the Greater Toronto Area. York Region is one of six regional
governments in Ontario and was created on January 1, 1971 by the provincial government.

In general, the Regional Municipality of York provides services and programs that are best delivered across wide areas, or those requiring large-scale coordination. The nine local municipalities provide programs and services that are more local in nature. The Municipal Act, 2001 is the provincial legislation that outlines the areas
of regional and local area municipal responsibility. The following list shows the range of services provided at the regional and area municipal levels.

Back to Top

Population Trends (1)

York Region's population has more than quintupled since its creation in 1971.
As of December 2006, the region's population was estimated to be approximately 950,674. Most of York Region's population growth has been concentrated in the three southern area municipalities of Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.
In terms of the general age of York Region's residents, when compared to the Greater Toronto Area and Canada, York Region has a younger population. This is primarily due to the large proportion of people between the ages of 35 and 54 that make up 35% of the region's population.

By 2026, it is anticipated that 21% of York Region's population will be senior citizens (65+), which would see the seniors' population increase three times over the 2000 level to 263,000.

A growing population that is also aging poses a number of challenges for all levels of government to find ways to better anticipate the needs of an older population, who may also have disabilities, and to ensure that programs and services meet those needs.

Back to Top

Persons with Disabilities in York Region (2)

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 3.6 million people in Canada have disabilities representing 12.4% of Canadians. Of this, there are approximately 1.5 million people with disabilities in Ontario representing approximately 13.5% of Ontarians. By 2025, it is expected that this number will increase to three million people, or 20% of the population.

At the time of the last census in 2001, York Region's population was just over 750,000. Of this, the number of people in York Region who identified themselves as having a disability was about 90,330 or 12% of the total population. In 2026, York Region's population is expected to reach 1.28 million. Of this, it is estimated that the number of people with disabilities will be approximately 230,400 or 18% of residents.

Back to Top

Key Observations

Accessibility for persons with disabilities matters deeply and is a key spending priority for York Region residents. This interest is reflected in the most recent York Region Environics Survey (2006). In 2006, the survey reported that a resounding 96% majority of residents said they felt it was important for programs, services and facilities in York Region to be fully accessible to residents with disabilities. These findings are consistent with the 2005 and 2004 surveys which found that 97% felt full accessibility was important. Furthermore, in the 2006 survey, over 50% of residents stated that even if it would increase their taxes they supported increased spending on services for persons with disabilities ahead of increased spending on services for seniors, police services, public transit and child care.

Making Regional services fully accessible to all, including residents with disabilities, along with the high priority placed on increased spending on services to persons with disabilities, was also reflected in the 2004 and 2005 Environics Surveys.

(1) Source: The Changing Face of York Region, A Demographic Profile by York Region Planning and Development Services Department; York Region Population Estimate, York Region Planning and Development Services Department based on Statistics Canada data and CMHC Housing Completion data

(2) Source: Statistics Canada, Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, 2001.
Statistics Canada, Custom Tabulations, Census 2001.
Note: Statistics are based on self-identification and include a broad scope of disability.