In its final written submission to the Dean Mayo Moran independent review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), CMHA Ontario calls for strong and consistent protections for people with mental health disabilities in Ontario. CMHA Ontario has seen significant positive impacts following the implementation of the AODA and its standards, including growing attention and interest in accessibility from a range of employers and service providers and believes that these impacts could be strengthened through consistency with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Mayo Moran, Dean of the University of Toronto law school, was appointed by the government in September 2013 to conduct an independent review of the AODA, as required under the legislation. CMHA Ontario participated in the process by making an oral presentation during her Toronto public consultation, and by submitting this written feedback.
CMHA Ontario calls for strong and consistent protections for people with mental health disabilities in Ontario.
In both submissions, CMHA Ontario has called for alignment between the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code. In particular, CMHA Ontario is very concerned that recent proposed changes to the definition of service animal under the AODA’s Customer Service Standard could have a negative impact on Ontarians with mental health disabilities.
For more information, please read CMHA Ontario’s written submission.