Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Publishes Review of AODA and Recommendations
Date: February 17, 2015
On February 13, 2015, the Ontario government published a report on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”) by Mayo Moran, Provost and Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto. The report constitutes the second legislative review of the AODA, and outlines her recommendations to the government, which include:
- renewal of government leadership;
- the development of a transparent enforcement plan;
- a resourced and empowered Accessibility Directorate of Ontario to provide robust compliance support (including guidance);
- a comprehensive public awareness campaign;
- clarifying the relationship between the Human Rights Code and the AODA;
- planning for new standards, with healthcare and education being the “clearest areas” for the development of same;
- encouragement, support and celebration of accessibility planning “beyond” the AODA, including rewards / small business incentives for compliance; and
- AODA process improvement.
