CNIB Leaders Engagement Survey
Name: Andrea Horwath Constituency: Hamilton Centre
Political Party: Ontario NDP
Part I: Equitable Library Access in Ontario
Approximately 10% of Canadians have a print disability. This
includes those who are blind or partially sighted, have learning or
cognitive disabilities and those with conditions that prevent them
from holding a book due to their disability. Access to reading
material in alternative formats helps people with print disabilities
increase their opportunities for literacy, employment, life-long
learning, and community engagement. If elected, would you
and the party you lead support equitable library access for
Ontarians who are print disabled in your first budget by
investing $4.8 million over three years as outlined in the
Reading Re-Imagined Business Plan submitted to the
government and outlined in the attached briefing note.
The Ontario NDP will support the work of CNIB to secure
equitable access to library services for Ontarian’s with print
disabilities. New Democrats understand the need for services
that ensure better education, better jobs and a better
quality of life for those who are vision impaired.
An Ontario NDP government will invest in services for the
print disabled and will ensure funding for the completion of
the three year CNIB project, which has recently competed
its first phase.
Part II: Vision Rehabilitation
The responsibility for delivering Vision Rehabilitation in Ontario
for those who are blind and partially sighted is primarily borne by
CNIB, a charitable organization. As a result, these essential
programs that enable independence are not well integrated within
the continuum of care in our Province. If elected, would your
government work with CNIB to ensure Vision
Rehabilitation is integrated into and appropriately funded
by Ontario’s Health Care system?
The Ontario NDP understands that vision rehabilitation
services are vital in ensuring that those who experiencing a
loss of vision can learn how to cope and adapt so they can
carry on with their lives.
We are committed to working with all stakeholders including
working with the CNIB to find and explore opportunities to
strengthen Vision Rehabilitation in Ontario.
Part III: Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)
While CNIB provides the same services across Ontario, we have
14 different contracts with 13 different LHINs. As a result, CNIB is
required to comply with 13 different compliance and reporting
regimes to deliver a single province-wide service. The cost of this
administrative burden is borne not by the government, but by
CNIB donors. If elected, what would your government do to
reduce the administrative burden associated with the
importance of local planning lead by the LHINs?
An Ontario NDP Government will conduct a review of LHINs
to make healthcare truly accountable to communities. We
understand the administrative complexities of having 14
LHIN; including the impact on other organizations, such as
yours, that provide valuable services. This issue would also
be under review as the Ontario NDP works towards
eliminating redundant administrative costs both for the
taxpayer and partnering organizations.
Part IV: Accessibility in Ontario
The Accessibility for Ontarians Disabilities Act (AODA) has
committed to a barrier-free Ontario by 2025. If elected,
what would your government do to make this promise a
reality and how would you work with disability groups and
community organizations to reach this goal?
Currently one in seven people in Ontario have a disability
and this number will rise as the population ages. The Ontario
NDP understands that building a truly accessible Ontario is
crucial.
The next government will need to determine all accessibility
standards to achieve full accessibility in Ontario. New
Democrats are committed to doing this as quickly as
possible and making Ontario fully accessible for people with
disabilities by 2025.
Our plan also includes ensuring the Pan Am Games are fully
accessible to all Ontarians. We believe that hosting the Pan
Am Games is an ideal opportunity to leave an accessibility
legacy.
Part V: Employment
Given that less than a third of Canadians with vision loss are
employed and more than half live below the poverty line on
annual incomes of $20,000 or less, employability is a key area of
concern for Ontarians who are blind and partially sighted. What
would the party you lead do to close this gap and help
those living with vision loss find employment in Ontario?
The Ontario NDP understands that with the right supports
Ontarians with vision loss can be productive members of
society. We are committed to removing barriers to
employment for Ontarians with vision loss. We will work with
stakeholder organizations and employers to find effective
ways of supporting the recruitment and retention of workers
with visual impairment.
Providing quality education for Ontarians with a visual
impairment is a crucial first step in ensuring their future
employability. An Ontario NDP government will deliver
results by reviewing education funding to ensure that
students with special needs receive necessary, professional
support. Regulated non-teaching special education staff
plays an important role in supporting our students with
special needs. Unfortunately, past government decisions to
cut funding and freeze budgets has meant doing more with
less for teachers and support staff. In secondary schools,
the ratio of special education students to special education
teachers has risen dramatically from 48:1 to 66:1; between
2001 and 2013. We need a change. New Democrats
recognize that when our students succeed, we all succeed.