HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-04-08, Page 6•
Page 6 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 8, 2009
New provincial legislation on accessibility raises evebrows
BY CHERYL
HEATH
Clinton News -Record
Staff
Sweeping new
provincial legisla-
tion designed to
enforce stringent
new standards for
a fully accessible
Ontario is begin-
ning to draw raised
eyebrows from
county councillors.
In reporting on
the Huron County
Accessibility
gg re* 04934
,;f V' meati
www.tnoviolutiks
Fri&Sat 6:45&9:15
Sun - Thur 8:00
Fri, Sat, Sun /A Mon
Matinsosi 2:00
wawa W
1-800-265-3438
Advis•ory
Committee's latest
meeting to county
council April 1,
chairwoman
Dorothy Kelly
(Morris -
Turnberry) says
concern is mount-
ing about the legis-
lation, set to take
effect in the year..
2011, because of
the potential price
tags attached to it.
"Don't leave it
all to the last
minute," she sug
gests, noting
lower -tier munici
F
alities with con-
cerns about
upgrades to
Andrew Carnegie
library branches
and other heritage
buildings may
soon want to start a
letter -writing cam-
paign.
Kelly says one.
positive as t of
the HCAA is . it
does have the nec-
essary experts on
board lo advise
Municipalities and
businesses on their
renovation plans.
Kelly points to
Huron East as an
example of a
municipality that..
recently .utilized
the service for its
Brussels arena-
renovation
rena renovation plans.
She points out
the HCAAC wil
be making a pres
entation on th
province'
Accessibility fo
Ontarians with
Disabilities Ac
(AODA), also
known as BiU 118
to interested
municipal - official
on April. 17.
"We want to
keep our profile as
visible as possi-
ble," says Kelly-jnreference to . thelegislation. Indeed,
she notes the com-
mittee will have a
booth at the
u -��:i April20
P� g
brochure swap . for
that purpose.
Coun. Deb
hewfelt
oderich) won-
rs whether there
been any dis-
cussion with
regard to the��.
Association of
Municipalities of
Ontario (AMO)
resolution 'request-
ing g �a delay m
enforcement of the
act given its broad
scope.
"There's a sug-
gestion it's coming
too fast," he says.`
1 He adds the
- HCAAC was quite
e helpful with input
s on the recent
r '�r Goderich town -
hall renovations.
t Larry Adams,
Chief
, Administrative
Officer for Huron
s. County, reports
there are a number
of concerns in sev-
eral quarters about
the act's require
require-
ments.
"It's coming
awfully quickly.
It's extremely
he
expensive,"
says.
Coun. Neil •
Vincent (North
Huron) says it is
unfortunate the :.
provincial legisla-
tion
egis -
tion is lumping all
municipalities into
one class since
urger : ones have
the revenue to han-
dle renovations.
"In the economy
we're in right now,
things: are going to
have to be looked
at,:.. says Vincent,
noting: municipali-
ties should enlist
the help of Huron -
Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell.
Meanwhile,
County Warden
Ken , Oke reports
he recently attend-
ed a seminar where
there proved to be
two points of view
ori the legislation.
One speaker said
there would likely
be no enforcement-
as long as a mutic-
ipality has an
action plan while
David Onley, the
Lieutenant
Governor
Governor who is
entrusted . with
enforcing the act,
said those found
not to lie in com-
pliance *ill be
prosecuted:
"There are
different versions
of it. It is going to
be costly and it's
going to,:be a lot of
work trenovate
some • of these
buildings
bring. : them up to
code," .says Oke.
The HCAAC
chairwoman says it
is unlikely . any
municipality will
hold itself up as/ a
test case by refus-
ing to comply with
the act given the
range of fines
involved. The act
states that persons..
or .organizations
convicted of an
offence under its
purview are liable
for fines of up to
$50;000 for each
and every day or
part day: that an.
offence happens
while a corpora-
tion may face a
fine of up to
$100,000 for each
and every daor
part day that an
offence happens:
Directors and or
officers of a corpo-
ration are also
liable to fines of up •
to $50,000 for
each and every day
or part day that an
offence happens.
•
IP Deserve to Play
'Best Public Golf Course" - "Best Greens in
South Western Ontario" - London Free Press
"i3est Golf Value in Province" Score Golf Magazine
Black Members & daii Play
over 35 Additional Courses in Ontario for
e, just $30 Gr6an Fees - That's Value!
Cost of 18 Hole Memberships are equal
or lower than some 9 Hole Courses.
14/.4stp,st for Less?'
OPEN HOUSE
Sat. April 11 — lla.m. — 4p.m.
Refreshments Served
BOOKING T
4 ;,..„.,.
Corporate Discounts Available
• For info. and forms - www.blackhorsegOlf.ca
or call 519-395-0009.
•
1436 Bruce Rd. 1, E. of Kincardine
21an S. of Hwy 9 at Kinloss - 121(m N. of Hwy 86 Lucknow
West of WO and Walkerton
. The family of
Thomas and Margaret You
of Dungannon invites
family and friends to an
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, April 11, 2009
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
icDungannon Senior Centre
Best wishes only, please!
Join us for the
Haunted Mans ..
urder Mystery
rriclay, April 17
6:)0 p.m. • Dinner 7
$1Z in advance • $15 at door
.event is sponsored by the is ''s
,Legion Branch 309 '
Ckets at door or 519-528-3521 or call tri
canteen 519-528-2745
IN THE THEME OF THE NIGHT - "HAU
MANSION IN THE '50s"
:111148 FOR BEST COSTUME, AND BEST ACTO