Key Issues / Position Papers

CHS is involved in a number of key public policy issues.

Key Issues

Federal

• Bell Canada 50% discount on TTY long distance calls.
  Today the CRTC ruled that the 50% discount on long-distance calls for registered TTY users must remain in place. For more Information click here.

Provincial

• Provincial Key Issues
• Mcguinty Government Delivering More support for students who are deaf
• Minister of Education's Press Release on new ASL/LSQ Regulation Announcement

CHS position papers

• The Canadian Hearing Society Position Paper on Accessibility and Accommodation
• The Canadian Hearing Society Position Paper on Access to Democracy and the Electoral System
• The Canadian Hearing Society Position Paper on Alarms and Emergency Notification Systems
• The Canadian Hearing Society Position Paper on Discrimination and Audism

Access

• Accessible Elections
  http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario/
  planning/election.html

CHS Responses

1. To public policy issues.

Standing Committees are permanent committees of the Government that examine legislation, hold hearings, and make recommendations on legislative measures. From time to time CHS submits responses to various Standing Committees.

• CHS Submissions in Response to Public Consultations
  • Federal [-/+]
    • Letters To Federal Ministers [-/+]
      • 2002 - Canada's Innovation Strategy - Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity and Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning For Canadians - Presentation to the Innovation Summit by The Canadian Hearing Society September 2002
      • 2005 - The Canadian Hearing Society's Response to Social Developmetn Canada's Persons with Disabilities Consulation
  • Provincial [-/+]
    • Letters To Provincial Ministers [-/+]
      • 2007 - Submission to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affaris Pre-Budget Consultations
• CHS Submissions in Response to Standing Committees
  • Federal [-/+]
    • Letters To Federal Ministers [-/+]
      • 2000 - Submission to the Canada Transporation Act Review Panel: Recommendations for Amending the Canada Transportation Act
      • 2001 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration with respect to Bill C-11: An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granding of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger
      • 2002 - Response to the Canadian Human Rights Comission's Legislative Review of The Employment Equity Act: A Discussion Paper - 15 February 2002
      • 2002 - Employment Equity Act Review - Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
      • 2002 - The Canadian Hearing Society - Response to the Canadian Human Rights Commission's Discussion Paper on Legislative Review Of the Employment Equity Act
      • 2003 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society To the Ministers of Finance and National Revenue's Technical Advisory Committee on Tadx Measures for Persons with Disabilities - Policy and Administrative Issues: Disability Tax Credit and Other Federal Tax Assistance Intended for Persons with Disabilities
      • 2005 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology - Challenges Facing Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Individuals with Mental Health Issues
  • Provincial [-/+]
    • Letters To Provincial Ministers [-/+]
      • 2000 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society to the Ontario Human Rights Comission's Consulation Paper THE CHANGING FACE OF ONTARIO: DISCRIMINATION AND OUR AGING POPULATION
      • 2000 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society To the Ontario College of Teachers - Preparing Teachers for Tomorrow Intiial Teacher Education in Ontario
      • 2001 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs With Respect to Bill 125: Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
      • 2001 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Social Policy with respect to Bill 101: Student Protection Act, 2001
      • 2002 - Submission to Legal Aid Ontario
      • 2002 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society To the Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Discussion Paper on Adult Education Review - Education and Disability: Human Rights Issues in Ontario's Education System
      • 2002 - Response to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - A Consultation on Barrier-Free Acess Requirements in the Ontario Building Code
      • 2004 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs With Respect to Pre-Budget Consultation
      • 2004 - Response of The Canadian Hearing Society To the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities' Discussion Paper on Adult Education and Training Review
      • 2005 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy with Respect to Bill 118: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004
      • 2006 - The Canadian Hearing Society's Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 107, The Proposed Ontario Human Rights Code Amendment Act
      • 2006 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy with respect to Bill 78: An Act to amend the Education Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and Certain Other Statutes Relating to Education
      • 2007 - Response to the Standing Senate Committee on
        Social Affairs, Science and Technology
        (Challenges Facing Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Individuals with Mental Health Issues.
      • 2007 - Submission to the Ministry of Health: 10 Year Strategic Planning Exercise

2. To Issues or Current Events From time to time, events or issues arise that CHS responds to in a timely way.

• September 28. 2007 Demonstrations for Improved Deaf Eucation
  • Response
• CHS expresses concern about developments taking place at Gallaudet University
  • Response
• CHS’s position to CRTC on proposed removal of TTY long-distance discount
  • Response

CHS and the Media

• DEAF ONTARIANS AND MOVIE INDUSTRY ACHIEVE ‘WIN/WIN’ VICTORY FOR MOVIE CAPTIONING

• CHS Press Releases
  • CHS Press Releases [-/+]
    • New Vision and Mission
      • English:Press Release
      • French:Press Release
    • "Humble" Howard Glassman Named CHS "Deaf " for a Day 2007 Provincial Chair
      • Press Release
    • Increased Protection Against Hearing Loss for Workers
      • Press Release
    • Landmark federal court decision for Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing Canadians
      • Press Release
    • CHS Calls For Inclusion of Ontarians with Hearing Loss in OHRC's Restaurant Accessibility Initiative
      • Press Release
    • Increased Protection Against Hearing Loss for Workers
      • Press Release
    • Landmark federal court decision for Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing Canadians
      • Press Release
    • CHS Calls For Inclusion of Ontarians with Hearing Loss in OHRC's Restaurant Accessibility Initiative
      • Press Release
    • Local Deaf Artist Commissioned by The Canadian Hearing Society
      • Press Release
    • Niagara Region hosts first-ever Communication Devices and Accessibility Centre in Ontario
      • Press Release
    • Windsor Provides Landmark Access for Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Citizens
      • Press Release
    • CHS SAYS TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!
      • Press Release
    • Order of Ontario awarded to CHS employee Joyce Lange.
      • News Release
    • CHS Annual General Meeting is a success. New Board elected.
      • News Release
    • CHS Study Reveals Desperate Need to Expand CHS Employment Services
      • News Release
    • CHS Presents A #1 National Bestseller
      • News Release
    • Police on trial for assault on deaf youth of colour
      • News Release
      • Backgrounder
    • New CD ROM provides access info in English, ASL, French, LSQ
      • News Release -English
      • News Release Backgrounder -English
      • News Release -French
      • News Release Backgrounder -French
    • CHS Wins International Award
      Gold Quill Award
      
      • For more information
    • Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament Providing More than Competition
      • For more information
    • Information Breaks Down Barriers
      CHS Celebrates Hearing Awareness Month
      • For more information
    • Cochlear Implants and Bacterial Meningitis
      Health professionals are recommending that people who have or are considering a cochlear implant contact their implant centre or physician to discuss immunization.
      • For more information
  
  

Coalitions

Coalitions are organizations working together toward a common goal such as supporting public policy. CHS is part of several coalitions.

• Accessible All-Candidates Meeting Coalition

Legal Decisions/Case Citations

Relevant legal decisions.

• Legal Agreements and Related Citations in Canada
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Links

Links to other websites of interest to anyone who follows CHS issues.

• Links [-/+]
  • Consumer Organizations [-/+]
    • Ontario Association of the Deaf
    • Canadian Association of the Deaf
    • CHHA - Ontario
    • CHHA - National
  • Agencies Serving Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing People [-/+]
    • BRCD
    • Silent Voice
    • Durham Deaf Services
    • Contacts In Canada
  • Interpreters/Intervenor Organization [-/+]
    • AVLIC
    • OASLI
    • IOO
    • SLINC
    • WASLI
  • Deaf Sites [-/+]
    • DEAFLYMPICS
    • DEAF NATION
    • Communication Service of the Deaf
    • National Association of the Deaf
    • Telecommunications for the Deaf
    • World Federation of the Deaf
  • Disability Organizations [-/+]
    • Council of Canadians with Disabilities
    • Citizens with Disabilities Ontario
    • AODA Alliance
    • Canadian Paraplegic Association - Ontario
    • Canadian Helen Keller Centre
    • Canadian National Institute for the Blind
    • Canadian Mental Health Association
    • ARCH Disability Law Centre
  • Post-Secondary Institutions[-/+]
    • Rochester Institute of Technology
    • National Technical Institute for the Deaf
    • Gallaudet University
    • Postsecondary Education Programs Network(PEPNet)
  • Government [-/+]
    • Federal
    • Provincial (Ontario)
    • Municipal
  • International [-/+]
    • DEAFLYMPICS
    • World Federation of the Deaf
    • International Federation of Hard of Hearing People
    • Disabled Peoples' International
    • European Union of the Deaf
    • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
    • Deafblind International (DbI)
  • United Nations [-/+]
    • United Nations(UN)
    • United Nations Educational, Scientific, Social and cultural organization (UNESCO)
    • World Health Organization (WHO)
    • International Labour Organization (ILO)
    • United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR)
    • UN Social and Economic Council (ECOSOC)
  • International Disability Organizations[-/+]
    • Disabled Peoples International (DPI)
    • Inclusion International (II)
    • International Federation of Hard of Hearing People
    • Rehabilitation International (RI)
    • World Blind Union (WBU)
    • World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB)
    • World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
    • INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE