Body: Council Type: Agenda Meeting: Regular Date: September 21, 2021 Collection: Council Agendas Municipality: Frontenac County
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Accessibility Advisory Committee Tuesday, September 21, 2021 –10:00 a.m. The Frontenac Room - County Administrative Building, 2069 Battersea Road Meeting to be held in combination of in person and Virtual Electronic Format, and live streamed on the County of Frontenac’s YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/mrZoR5DF--Y
AGENDA Page 1.
Call to Order
Adoption of the Agenda a) That the agenda for the September 21, 2021 meeting of the Joint Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
Adoption of Minutes a) Minutes of Meeting held July 13, 2021
3-5
That the minutes of the Joint Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting held July 13, 2021 be adopted. 5.
Deputations and/or Presentations
Reports to the Accessibility Advisory Committee a) 2021-084 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Update Report
6-8
This report is for information purposes only. 9 - 13
b)
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail That the Accessibility Advisory Committee endorse the accessibility improvements for the Frontenac K&P Trail outlined in this report.
Township Updates a) Township of North Frontenac b)
Township of Central Frontenac
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New Ramp at the OSO Hall. Comments are being solicited from the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee on the new ramp at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake. Please Note: The information being presented, which the County does not have control over, is not in an accessible format but can be provided upon request.
c)
Township of South Frontenac
d)
Township of Frontenac Islands
14 - 17
Communications a) From Janet MacDonald providing article on key issues being overlooked in Election 44
18 - 20
b)
From Kurt Halliday providing AODA Alliance Updates
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c)
From Kurt Halliday regarding Government of Canada Survey on its Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Other Business
Next Meeting
Adjournment
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 13, 2021 A meeting of the Frontenac Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (FAAC) was held in the Community Room of the Sydenham Library, 4412 Wheatley Street, Sydenham on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10:00 AM Present:
Neil Allen, Community Representative, South Frontenac, Chair Ed Schlievert, Community Representative, North Frontenac Janet MacDonald, Community Representative, Frontenac Islands Councillor Bill MacDonald, Council Liaison Councillor Gerry Martin
Present Electronically
Kurt Halliday, Community Representative, Central Frontenac
Regrets
David Yerxa, Community Representative At Large
Call to Order
Chair Allen called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. 2.
Adoption of the Agenda
Moved By: Seconded By:
Mr. Schlievert Councillor MacDonald
That the agenda for the July 13, 2021 meeting of the Joint Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Carried 3.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were none
Minutes of Meeting held July 13, 2021
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Adoption of Minutes
Moved By: Seconded By:
Mr. Schlievert Mr. Halliday
That the minutes of the Joint Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting held October 27, 2020 be adopted. Carried 5.
Deputations and/or Presentations
Reports to the Accessibility Advisory Committee a)
2021-057 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Update Report
Ms. Amini provided an overview of the report and the accessibility updates that have taken place, or that staff are and have continued to work on over the past year. In terms of the $5,000 increase to the annual Accessibility Reserve allocation proposal, questions were asked if this amount was sufficient, given the reserves current balance, and, what the reserve is typically used for as this would assist Council in its decision. Ms. Amini noted that the reserve in the past has been used to leverage funding from other levels of government. Although a higher allocation would be welcome, a $5,000 increase is sufficient enough without placing a heavy burden on the tax levy. Ms. Amini also noted the new public engagement platform the County now uses and how this will be used to promote accessibility in the Frontenacs as well as solicit nominations for the Celebrating Accessibility Award. b)
installation of Accessible Washroom at the Snow Road Community Hall
Mr. Korhonen provided the Committee with an overview of larger scale drawings of the proposed accessible washroom. He noted that this is a former old school house. Mr. Korhonen also provided the Committee with a general overview of the building, including paths of travel through the building and access to the washrooms. Councillor Martin noted that this redevelopment is the result of an infrastructure grant that the Township received for accessibility improvements in the amount of $50,000. It is anticipated that this project will begin and be completed this year.
County of Frontenac Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee July 13, 2021
Minutes of Meeting held July 13, 2021
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Township Updates Township of North Frontenac Township of Central Frontenac
The report was attached to the agenda. Township of South Frontenac Township of Frontenac Islands Ms. MacDonald provided an overview of the report submitted. 8.
Communications
Other Business
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 14th, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Township of South Frontenac Council Chamber. 11.
Adjournment
Moved By: Seconded By:
Councillor Martin Mr. Schlievert
That the meeting adjourn at 10:29 a.m. Carried
County of Frontenac Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee July 13, 2021
Minutes of Meeting held July 13, 2021
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Report 2021-084 Committee Report To:
Chair and Members of the Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee
From:
Jannette Amini, Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk
Date of meeting: September 21, 2021 Re:
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Update Report
Recommendation This report is for information purposes only. Background The Accessibility Advisory Committee is mandated to assist County and Township Councils in enabling persons with disabilities to have equal access to all opportunities within the County as well as work with Council and the community at large to identify and address the needs of persons with disabilities within the community. Comment The follow is a list of accessibility updates and activities that have occurred during 2021 for the County of Frontenac:
- K&P Trail 50 benches are being placed along the K&P Trail and the County is taking suggestions via its Engage Frontenac website. Committee members are encouraged to visit the site and provide comments. There is a separate report on the agenda by Mr. Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development regarding selected locations, bench-style recommendations and pad design.
- Conversion of Accessible Documents Update The Administrative Clerk and the Executive Assistant to the CAO and Director of Corporate Services continue to take the lead on converting the County’s inaccessible pdf’s to accessible documents. The County uses Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to create accessible pdf’s and ensure that the County’s website continues to be in compliance with the AODA. Documents must be put through this process prior to being uploaded to the County’s website in order to ensure compliance.
2021-084 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Update Report
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
- Redevelopment of the Administrative Building At the November 18, 2020 regular Council Meeting, Council provided authorization to staff to submit a grant application to the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream Funding, which is part of the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and reinforces the commitment of both the federal and provincial governments to protect the health and well-being of individuals and families during the pandemic. The County received the grant to a maximum of $100,000 in support of a small aspect of the Joint Administrative Building project, being the lobby/waiting area which would meet the criteria of the project being related to supporting physical distancing. As noted to the Committee at its July meeting, eligible projects were to begin by September 30, 2021 and be completed by December 31, 2021; however these deadlines have been extended 2 years. The Architectural firm that received the contract for the overall design work for the redevelopment of the County Administrative Building, Colbourne & Kembel, Architects Inc. are working with staff on the reception area, including accessible washrooms. A meeting was held on August 4, 2021 between the architects and both County and Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority staff to review the design of the reception area to determine interior fixtures.
- 2021 Access Award Advertisements for nominations for the 2021 Access Award opened in July and will be open until October 23, 2021. This is being promoted in a number of ways this year, including: 4.1.
EngageFrontenac website which is the new engagement hub that allows residents to learn about, participate in, and share their opinions about all kinds of projects underway across the County. A “Help promote accessibility in Frontenac County” project has been set up that provides important links, resources, and connections the visitor can use to learn more about accessibility as well as a series of tools to discuss issues with neighbours and staff, to share ideas on accessibility, and to share stories. All contributions go to help shape accessibility work across the Frontenacs. Staff will also reach out to the townships to have this engagement project placed on their respective engage websites. Although nominations for the Access Award closes on October 23, the engagement project will remain up to allow citizens to add to the project and highlight what is happening in the County in terms of accessibility throughout the year. Members of the Committee are encouraged to visit and promote the Engage Frontenac Accessibility Project.
4.2.
Previous Access Award winners have been contacted with an invitation encouraging them to submit nominations for this year’s award.
4.3.
Regular posts have been done on all County social media channels encouraging people to learn more about the Access Award and encouraged citizens to submit nominations.
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee –Update Report September 21, 2021
2021-084 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Update Report
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
4.4.
Individual video clips have been made with members of Council promoting the importance of accessibility and what is happening in their respect townships. These will be run on the County’s social media channels as individual clips each week leading up to the close of nominations.
- Open Farms The County’s 4th Annual Open Farms event was held earlier this month. This year, there was an Open Farms Community Hub at Centennial Park in Harrowsmith, with a number of events and community groups setting up over the course of the event. The event ensured that those with accessibility needs were accommodated, including accessible parking, washrooms, and safety precautions taken during set up including covering electrical cords, placement of event elements such as picnic tables and placement of booths themselves. Attention was also given in terms of the musical line up, including acoustical elements to ensure the quality and sound remained level throughout the park.
- 2021 AODA Compliance Report 2021 is a reporting year to the AODA for the broader Public Sector, including municipalities. Under the AODA, most Ontario organizations must complete accessibility compliance reports. These reports inform the government and the public that organizations are meeting the requirements of AODA standards. Small and large public sector organizations must complete reports every two years. In contrast, private or non-profit businesses with twenty to forty-nine (20-49) workers, or fifty (50) or more workers, must complete accessibility reports every three years. Strategic Priorities Implications Priority 1: Get behind plans that build community vitality and resilience in times of growth and change. This priority responds to high interest as well as concern shared broadly across the County that communities in the Frontenacs be well supported with infrastructure and services essential to vitality and sustainability in today’s world. Financial Implications There are no direct financial implications associated with this report. Organizations, Departments and Individuals Consulted and/or Affected Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development, County of Frontenac Angelique Cardinal, Executive Assistant to the CAO and Director of Corporate Services Eric Korhonen, Township of North Frontenac Donna Longmire, Township of Central Frontenac Jillian McCormick, Township of South Frontenac Darlene Plumley, Township of Frontenac Islands
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee –Update Report September 21, 2021
2021-084 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Update Report
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
Report 2021-085 Committee Report To:
Chair and Members of the Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee
From:
Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development
Date of meeting: September 21, 2021 Re:
Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
Recommendation That the Accessibility Advisory Committee endorse the accessibility improvements for the Frontenac K&P Trail outlined in this report. Background With the completion of core infrastructure on the Frontenac K&P Trail between the City of Kingston and Sharbot Lake in 2019, and with subsequent trail development to Clarendon Station in 2020 the County now actively manages 70 kilometers of multi-use trail on a daily basis. As a result of this work, and with the influence of the 2020 COVID19 Pandemic on recreational behaviour, the Frontenac K&P Trail has seen a significant increase of use by walkers, cyclists, and ATV users. This increase of use has increased demand for appropriate parking areas along the length of the trail, and improved amenities to support users of all ages and abilities. In November of 2019, County staff submitted a grant application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program to improve access, safety and amenities along the K&P Trail over a 4 year period. This application outlined the need for the following improvements:
Accessibility upgrades to the Verona Trailhead: This includes leveling, grading and paving of the parking area, installation of benches and picnic tables, improved lighting infrastructure and providing barrier free access to the K&P Trail from the parking area. Removal of barriers and construction of accessibility improvements at minor access points: Reconstruction or removal of 26 gate structures and making improvements for improved trail access for users of all abilities by using gravel or paving to ensure slope is kept to an appropriate level easily navigated by users with mobility challenges.
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
Road Crossing Improvements: Signage and minor infrastructure changes will be used to improve visibility of trail crossings and trail users. Edge Protection: As required by the AODA Design for Public Spaces regulation, edge protection should be installed along the edge of the trail in places where there are steep drop offs or water to prevent trail users of all abilities from injury. Park Benches: These areas will be developed throughout the Frontenac K&P Trail, with a focus on settlement areas where seniors and users with mobility challenges are most likely to access and use the Trail. This includes benches and enough off-trail space to support persons using assistive mobility devices. The Frontenac Regional Active Transportation plan recommends placement of benches every 500-1000 meters. Trail Counters: In order to provide consistent reporting data over time on the use of the trail, automated trail counting infrastructure will be installed at consistent intervals along the trail and near busy access points.
These improvements will not only improve access and safety, but strengthen the overall trail experience on the K&P, raising the bar for rail-trail development in eastern Ontario. Comment The following three initiatives are in the planning stages for implementation over the next 6 – 12 months on the K&P Trail. Benches Staff are poised to procure benches for installation along the K&P Trail as part of the ICIP Improving Accessibility on the K&P Trail program. Installation of benches will follow the guidelines below. Locations for benches will consider the following criteria
- Pedestrian Use: Areas with higher pedestrian use will be of the highest priority for bench locations. This may lead to a higher density of benches than the 500m – 1000m recommended by the Regional Active Transportation Plan. Trail counter data will be used to support these decisions.
- Proximity to Parking: Areas within 500m-1000m of parking areas will be prioritized for bench locations
- Views: Locations with views of wetlands, lakes or other highlights will be considered for bench locations. Members of the AAC are encourage to view the project at on Engage Frontenac to suggest additional locations or comment on proposed locations from an Accessibility perspective. Benches will be placed on a pad consisting of a compacted stone dust surface, uniform to the adjacent trail. Each pad will be large enough to support one bench and a space to park assistive devices, wheelchairs, or bicycles adjacent to the bench.
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail September 21, 2021
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
Gate Improvements The gates used to prevent motorized vehicles from accessing the K&P trail South of Bellrock Road can also create barriers for entry to other users. The openings can be narrow, the surface at the gates uneven, and there can be obstructions directly in front or behind the gates. The gate pictured below is located at Graham Road near Harrowsmith and clearly would be difficult for a person with a mobility device to traverse safely. If a person were to lose their balance at this entry, they would also likely fall into the adjacent wetland and watercourse.
In order to improve access and safety for all users, including those with mobility challenges, County staff are proposing to modify the gates to serve primarily as a deterrent, rather than as a barrier to entry. This would include the removal of the outer posts, and the shortening of the gates by 500 to 1000 millimetres. The locking mechanism will be installed at the hinge rather than using chains. The modified gate will allow for access along the main trail surface with a minimum opening of 1000 millimeters. This gate will be similar to that pictured below.
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail September 21, 2021
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
The proposed modifications will make it possible for smaller all-terrain vehicles to access the trail, however staff are pursuing other options to curb unauthorized motorized use, including fines for bylaw infractions, as this unauthorized use already occurs with the existing gates in place. Edge Protection Edge protection is a requirement of the AODA in order to prevent trail users with mobility aids or vision impairment from falls down steep edges or into water. Frontenac County uses a short “knee-fence” post and rail system to ensure that edge protection requirements are met, while also ensuring appropriate drainage from the trail. Many locations would benefit from edge protection along the K&P Trail, however funding is limited and priority locations will be selected for primary installations using the following principles:
- Height of Drop: Areas with steep drop offs will be of the highest priority for edge protection. Should a trail user slip and fall near the edge of these areas, they may fall for some distance before coming to rest. All areas with a drop of 3 feet or more will be evaluated and prioritized.
- Proximity to Water: If the drop off is directly into water there is risk of drowning and/or hypothermia. It may be more difficult for a person with mobility or vision issues to find their way to safety from water as well. All areas with water adjacent to the trail will be evaluated, and any areas with over one foot of water depth adjacent to the trail will be prioritized based on water depth and size of water body.
- High Use: Areas with higher use will be of the highest priority for edge protection.
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail September 21, 2021
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
Strategic Priorities Implications Priority 1: Get behind plans that build community vitality and resilience in times of growth and change. This priority responds to high interest as well as concern shared broadly across the County that communities in the Frontenacs be well supported with infrastructure and services essential to vitality and sustainability in today’s world. Financial Implications The accessibility improvements described in this report are funded through the Investing In Canada Program: Community Culture and Recreation stream. This project is a joint venture between Frontenac County and the Federal and Provincial governments. Organizations, Departments and Individuals Consulted and/or Affected
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail September 21, 2021
2021-085 Accessibility Improvements on the Frontenac K&P Trail
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Jannette Amini Subject:
FW: Canadians living with disabilities say key issues are being overlooked in Election 44
From: Georgene MacDonald [mailto:] Sent: September 7, 2021 12:24 PM To: Jannette Amini jamini@FRONTENACCOUNTY.CA; Darlene Plumley dplumley@frontenacislands.ca; Denis Doyle denisdoyle@kos.net Subject: Canadians living with disabilities say key issues are being overlooked in Election 44
Hello - I thought you might find this of interest. Regards … Janet
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Platform Inaccessibility? Canadians living with disabilities say key issues are being overlooked in Election 44
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From Janet MacDonald providing article on key issues being overlooked in…
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Canadians emphatic that post-pandemic recovery should be not just green, but inclusive September 7, 2021 – Now well into Canada’s 44th election, party leaders are laying out their visions of Canada’s future in a bid to gain an edge in an increasingly tight race. While criss-crossing the country, party leaders have made promises on a number of subjects from tax reform and the government deficit to energy policy and climate change. One subject rarely broached in townhalls, photo-ops, and media scrums is how best to support Canadians living with disabilities. A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, conducted in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation, confirms this, finding two-thirds (67%) of Canadians living with a disability don’t think the question of how to best support those with a disability is receiving enough attention. Further, one-third of the Canadian population overall (34%) are unable to
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From Janet MacDonald providing article on key issues being overlooked in…
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
identify a party that they believe has the best policies to support those living with a disability. Of those with a lived experience of disability, two-in-five either don’t know (25%) or believe that no party has the answer (17%). On the specific question of accessibility, those living with disability are clear that there is still much room for improvement: fully 86 per cent report having their daily activities impacted at least occasionally by their condition. The favoured solution for four-in-five Canadians—both those living with a disability (80%) and without (78%)—is to implement some form of harmonized national standard of accessibility.
More Key Findings:
When it comes to who has the best proposals for supporting those living with disabilities, one-in-three (32%) Canadians living with disabilities choose the NDP. Notably the NDP is also the second choice for those living with disabilities who voted for both the Liberals (36%) and the Conservatives (12%) in 2019. On the question of accessibility, 92 per cent of Canadians believe that taxpayer funded projects should be held to the highest standards—a finding with important implications for post-pandemic infrastructure recovery projects. Canadians are clear that they do not want taxpayer money spent on building new barriers to accessibility, with the majority of respondents (56%) preferring a priority on both environmental and accessibility concerns 3
From Janet MacDonald providing article on key issues being overlooked in…
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AGENDA ITEM #a)
Four-in-five Canadians (78%) surveyed believe there should be a national standard of accessibility. When thinking about what this should look like, 63 per cent say it should be to the highest existing standards and practices. For more on how we define disability, and a comparison with Statistics Canada figures, please see our previous study here.
Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/
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From Janet MacDonald providing article on key issues being overlooked in…
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
Jannette Amini Subject:
FW: Disability Coalition Slams Trudeau Government Giving Millions to Rick Hansen Foundation’s Seriously Deficient Building Accessibility Certification Training Program
From: Kurt Halliday [mailto:] Sent: August 27, 2021 1:34 PM To: Jannette Amini jamini@FRONTENACCOUNTY.CA Subject: Fwd: Disability Coalition Slams Trudeau Government Giving Millions to Rick Hansen Foundation’s Seriously Deficient Building Accessibility Certification Training Program
People might find this interesting, educational, etc.
———- Forwarded message ——–From: AODA Alliance Updates updates@aodaalliance.org Date: Tue, Aug 24, 2021 at 10:04 AM Subject: Disability Coalition Slams Trudeau Government Giving Millions to Rick Hansen Foundation’s Seriously Deficient Building Accessibility Certification Training Program To: thisiskurthalliday@gmail.com thisiskurthalliday@gmail.com ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Disability Coalition Slams Trudeau Government’s Giving Millions to Rick Hansen Foundation’s Seriously Deficient Building Accessibility Certification Training Program August 24, 2021 Toronto: Just before calling a federal election, the Federal Government announced action that wastes public money, creates serious new problems for people with disabilities and lacks important due diligence needed before pouring millions of public dollars into an unaccountable private foundation. On August 13, 2021, the Federal Government announced up to 7.5 million dollars to the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to help finance its problem-ridden private accessibility certification program for buildings. Entirely unhelpful for six million people with disabilities in Canada, this wasteful federal announcement took a page from Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s troubling playbook, by using a wasteful diversion of public money to the RHF to deflect attention from protracted delays in implementing disability accessibility legislation. The Federal Government claimed: “With this investment, the Foundation will establish a new standardized profession of “accessibility professionals,” which will increase expertise and information on how to build accessible spaces in a way that includes people of all abilities.”
- RHF Program Does Not Accurately Measure a Building’s Accessibility The RHF program provides an unreliable accessibility “certification”. It in reality certifies nothing. A building that the RHF says as accessible" is not assured to be accessible. 1
From Kurt Halliday providing AODA Alliance Updates
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
a) A BC restaurant agreed to a human rights settlement due to its premises’ lack of accessibility even though the RHF had “certified” it as accessible. See “Human Rights Tribunal to hear disabled customer’s complaint about Pat Quinn’s” and “Disability advocate settles accessibility complaint against Pat Quinn’s Restaurant & Bar” b) The RHF proudly gave the Vancouver International Airport a gold rating for accessibility, even though it had “hang out steps”, riddled with accessibility problems. See “Who gets to decide what is accessible—and who does that leave behind?” c) The Ontario Government is building a massive new courthouse in downtown Toronto replete with accessibility problems. Yet the Ontario Government told the AODA Alliance that the RHF program rated the building’s design as accessible. The RHF assessor never contacted the AODA Alliance to investigate the Alliance’s detailed and publicly documented accessibility concerns with that building.
Deficient RHF Training Does Not Make a Person an Accessibility Professional The Federal Government makes the highly misleading claim that the RHF training that the Government is underwriting will create a new standardized profession of accessibility professionals. Yet two years ago, an AODA Alliance report detailed massive problems with the RHF’s seriously deficient training. A person completing that substandard training would mislead others if they claim to thereby be an “accessibility professional.” Even the RHF conceded in an August 19, 2021 report in the Burnaby Beacon: “‘we agree that the 2-week RHFAC training course is not sufficient to provide students with enough knowledge to consider themselves experts in the application of universal design,’ the foundation said.” Far from being the gold standard for training accessibility professionals that the Federal Government should underwrite and that others should follow, the very short RHF training program is a model of how such training should not be done.
Ford Government Earlier Spending $1.3 Million on RHF Program Yielded No Improvement in Accessibility In 2015, the Kathleen Wynne Government flirted with buying into the RHF program, but wisely dropped that idea. In 2019, the Ford Government claimed it was improving the accessibility of buildings in Ontario by giving the RHF private accessibility certification program 1.3 million dollars. The AODA Alliance led criticism of that misuse of public money. See the July 24, 2019 Toronto Star: “Advocates slam Ontario plan to rate accessibility of buildings.” On August 6, 2019, the Toronto Star ran a strong editorial blasting the Ford Government for this use of public money. Over two years after the Ford Government bought into the RHF program, there’s no proof it led to the removal of any disability barriers.
Much Needed Federal Government Due Diligence is Strikingly Absent Before pouring millions of public dollars into the RHF, an unaccountable private foundation, the Federal Government must not have undertaken obvious, rudimentary due diligence. A quick Google or social media search would quickly reveal serious concerns about the RHF program emanating from credible voices in the grass roots disability community that this federal spending supposedly is to benefit. For example, the Federal Government never contacted the AODA Alliance to explore its documented concerns with the RHF training and certification program. Two years ago, the AODA Alliance made public two detailed reports, dated July 3, 2019 and August 15, 2019. Those reports exhaustively proved in exquisite detail, based on RHF documentation, the many serious deficiencies with the RHF program. Since then, the RHF has not disproved these concerns.
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From Kurt Halliday providing AODA Alliance Updates
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AGENDA ITEM #b)
- RHF is not Expert in Training Accessibility Professionals or Assessing Building Accessibility Mr. Hansen’s name and personal notoriety do not give the RHF the expertise it lacks in this area. In contrast, Canada has real accessibility professionals, with far more than a couple of weeks of accessibility training, who can competently assess a building’s accessibility and make recommendations where improvements are needed. “By buying into the Rick Hansen Foundation’s problem-ridden program and misleadingly claiming to create a new profession of accessibility professionals, the Federal Government hurts people with disabilities. It’s substantially lowering the training needed to competently work in this area, and putting it in the hands of an unaccountable private foundation with a record of focusing primarily on some disabilities to the potential exclusion of others,” said David Lepofsky, chair of the non-partisan AODA Alliance that advocates for accessibility for people with all kinds of disabilities. “This public funding would have been far better used to develop a strong, effective, comprehensive, mandatory national standard for accessible design of buildings for all people with disabilities that could be enforced under the Accessible Canada Act.” In this close election race, the non-partisan AODA Alliance wrote the major political parties on August 4, 2021, seeking specific election commitments to implement the Accessible Canada Act that was passed in 2019. In the 2019 federal election, the Liberal party committed “to the timely and ambitious implementation of the Accessible Canada Act so that it can fully benefit all Canadians.” It also pledged to use a disability lens for all Government decisions. The Accessible Canada Act requires Canada to become accessible to people with disabilities by 2040, at least within federal jurisdiction. In the two years since the Accessible Canada Act was passed, there has been some progress. However, we have to date not observed any appreciable improvement in accessibility for people with disabilities. The Federal Government has still not even hired the national Accessibility Commissioner or the Chief Accessibility Officer to lead the Accessible Canada Act’s implementation. No national accessibility standards have yet been enacted to require specific action to remove and prevent disability barriers. Contact: AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky, aodafeedback@gmail.com Twitter: @aodaalliance For more background:
- The AODA Alliance’s July 3, 2019 report on the RHF program..
- The AODA Alliance’s August 15, 2019 supplemental report on the RHF program certification program.
- The AODA Alliances widely viewed online video about accessibility problems with the new Ryerson University Student Learning Centre. That building included the very inaccessible “hang out steps” that are also present at the Vancouver International Airport, the latter building being the first to receive an RHF gold rating for accessibility. This email was sent to thisiskurthalliday@gmail.com. If you are no longer interested you can unsubscribe instantly.
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From Kurt Halliday providing AODA Alliance Updates
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AGENDA ITEM #c)
Jannette Amini Subject:
FW: September 14 AAC meeting
From: Kurt Halliday [mailto:] Sent: August 23, 2021 12:01 PM To: Jannette Amini jamini@FRONTENACCOUNTY.CA Subject: Re: September 14 AAC meeting
Hi, Jannette An update … The Government of Canada is surveying ideas and opinions relating to its Disability Inclusion Action Plan responses run to Sept. 30. HERE This follows a national consultation and the passing of the Accessible Canada Act in June, 2019. Accessibility is of course central. The survey is anonymous and takes a few minutes. I would suggest there are potential impacts for local communities and for AACs. Cheers, Kurt On Fri, Aug 20, 2021 at 2:01 PM Jannette Amini jamini@frontenaccounty.ca wrote:
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From Kurt Halliday regarding Government of Canada Survey on its Disabili…
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