Why do we need the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, especially when Ontario already has the Human Rights Code, a quasi-constitutional law that binds most other legislation and government to ensure equal treatment and accommodation for persons with disabilities? Further, does our Charter of Rights and Freedoms not further bind the Crown and other parties to treat persons with disabilities with equality?

While laws are in place to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination and harassment in the workplace, services and other areas of the community, nothing stops businesses, employers or other stakeholders from discriminating against persons with disabilities. If they discriminate, they do risk a complaint being filed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, but there is little other enforcement other than through filing a complaint or a lawsuit – something that can be time-consuming and expensive for a person allegedly targeted by discrimination.

During the 2005 hearings for Bill 118, which eventually became passed as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in Ontario, the legislative committee charged with consulting individuals and organizations that wished to comment on this proposal learned that although we have laws on the books, the quality of life for persons with disabilities continues to be substantially less than optimal.

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