Stronger commitment to accessibility needed - needs to be consistently at the forefront

Re Sign bylaw frustrates business owners, town council makes amendment

Council’s discussion and subsequent motion to amend the bylaw to require that all signs be AODA compliant seems misguided and appears to be a performative concern.  

The signs discussed are not mentioned in the AODA or its Regulation. 

The report to council cited AODA compliance for sidewalks as per the Design of Public Spaces Standard. However, even then, sidewalks are to be made compliant when constructing new ones or redeveloping them. Although there are AODA exemptions for sidewalks for heritage reasons, they were not relied on for George Street.

Admittedly, A-frame signs can be a barrier but if placement is a concern, then guidelines need to be created like in other municipalities that have approved Heritage Conservation Districts. 

Deputy Mayor Gibb is quoted as saying, “we’ve charged other businesses to use town property. I don’t know what the difference is here.” 

My guess is there is a difference between patios taking away valuable parking spaces and a sign on a boulevard interfering with nothing.

As for the claim that these infractions “undermine the Town’s efforts to maintain an inclusive and navigable public space,” council has had opportunities to increase inclusivity but has not done so.

Open Air barriers prevent equal participation of some people with disabilities and do not provide an inclusive and navigable space. The number one resident complaint in the Open Air survey is accessibility. 

I e-mailed and/or delegated eight times requesting council to enact a patio policy to ensure AODA compliance and I provided a resource. 

Other barriers to equal participation need to be removed and there needs to be meaningful consultation with the disability community.

There needs to be a stronger commitment to accessibility, but it needs to be consistently at the forefront. 

Otherwise, one might conclude that accessibility is being embraced for appearance’s sake or when it suits.

—Linda Saxon

Amherstburg

Stronger commitment to accessibility needed - needs to be consistently at the forefront