Meanwhile, $24 million in government funds earmarked to oversee the law since it was passed in 2005 remains unspent, say the documents obtained under a freedom of information request.
Seventy per cent of private businesses with 20 employees or more, about 36,000 across the province, have failed to comply with the law’s reporting requirement, according to the data obtained by lawyer David Lepofsky of the Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance.
Under the 2007 requirement, companies had until Dec. 31, 2012, to e-file a report with the government outlining how they accommodate customers with disabilities, train staff and receive customer feedback.
Despite the lack of compliance, not one business in violation has been inspected, issued a compliance order or fined, the documents show.
Lepofsky, who asked for an update on business compliance in January, was forced to file an FOI and initially charged $2,325. He appealed and the government released the documents late last week.
“In both the 2003 and 2011 provincial elections, the Liberals promised to effectively enforce their disability legislation,” Lepofsky said.
“But the documents show they have been palpably derelict in their duty to enforce this law.”
Economic Development, Trade and Employment Minister Eric Hoskins, who is responsible for the legislation, said he is also upset about the lack of compliance.
“I believe we are not doing enough to make sure companies and organizations are complying with the standards,” he said in an interview. “The percentage of compliance is unacceptably low.”
Since taking over the portfolio in February, Hoskins said he has doubled the number of businesses in compliance from about 7,000 to 15,000.
He ordered the ministry to send information notices to every business last spring and again last summer. On Monday, he is sending out 2,500 enforcement letters.
“I will pursue vigorously those businesses that don’t respond,” he said.
As for the $24 million in unspent funds to oversee the law, Hoskin predicted that once enforcement measures begin, spending will increase.
“Until Dec. 31, 2012, we really only had the ability to increase awareness,” he said. “This calendar year, we have turned our attention to identifying those that didn’t comply.”
Ontario’s 2005 disabilities act requires the government to ensure the province is fully accessible by 2025.
“Professionally, this is one of my top priorities as a minister and I have worked very seriously on this,” he added.
A 2010 independent review of the disabilities act urged the government “to show new leadership” and “revitalize” implementation of the law.
But these latest documents show the government has fallen down on the job of serving the province’s 1.7 million Ontarians with disabilities, Lepofsky said.
“Accessibility is good for business and for the public. It helps the bottom line by opening up business to more customers with disabilities,” he said.
“The government said this is a top priority,” Lepofsky said. “Their inaction speaks far louder than their hollow words. I’d hate to see what it would be like if it was a low priority.”
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Laurie Monsebraaten
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