The City of Port Colborne is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for residents, job applicants, suppliers, visitors, and other stakeholders entering our premises, accessing information, or using our services. Please see our Accessible Customer Service Policy [PDF/549KB] for further details.
The City of Port Colborne is a member of the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (JAAC), a partnership between seven communities in Niagara: Thorold, Pelham, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lincoln, West Lincoln, Grimsby and Port Colborne. Together, with Council, we share a commitment to facilitate identification and removal of barriers to people with disabilities, promoting equal opportunities to our citizens of all abilities.
* Agendas are prepared a week prior to the meeting and will be posted on the website when available.
In 2005, the Ontario Government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to make Ontario accessible by 2025.
Accessibility standards have been created as part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. These standards are rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario need to follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers so that people with disabilities have more opportunities to participate in everyday life.
The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service was the first standard to become law.
The next three standards - Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation - have been combined under one regulation, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. This regulation is now law and the requirements currently in regulation are being phased in between 2011 and 2021.
For the built environment (buildings and outdoor spaces), the Ontario Building Code has been amended to include enhancements to accessibility in buildings. As of January 1, 2015, new construction and renovations will be subject to updated accessibility requirements.
