Accessible Parking Wars in Toronto…Again? Institute of Canadian Justice

By Gerald Parker

Summary of Presentation Accessible Parking in Toronto- The Fine Print

Introduction of Purpose and Solutions The History and Purpose of Accessible Parking in Toronto

Recent Events Media Reports, Council Decisions and Budgetary Ramifications

Accessible Parking Realities in Toronto Why Toronto has disproportionate accessible parking demands and issues

Toronto Police Solutions Ongoing operational solutions and policing education

Other Solutions for Associated Agencies AODA, HTA and MVRA amendments, Canada Health Act, etc.

Introduction

Public Policy Intent Why accessible parking for people with disabilities is a public policy and public safety imperative

Recent Events

Public Policy Intent

Parking Realities

Toronto Police Solutions

Other Solutions

Perfect Storm of Competing Interests

• Rights vs. Revenue

• Original Intent and Remaining Realities

• Public Safety vs. Revenue Generation

• Operational Cash Cow and Its Storied Past

• Refusals of Constitutionally Required Accessibility

• First and Last Jurisdiction-International Lessons

• Operational Impact

• Outcry of Citizenry

• Operational Responses

Misinformation, Budgetary Demands, Infrastructure Failures

MEDIA REPORTS

• October 19, 2011 Toronto Star • Failure to verify

• Political Pandering

• False and Sensationalized

• Refusal to Correct

• User Victimization

• Operational Integrity

• November 9, 2011-OAPSB • “Ontario needs tougher penalties — such as

seizing cars and income tax refunds — to deal with the $1 billion in unpaid fines from traffic tickets and provincial offences such as driving without insurance over the years”..at the request of “Dalton McGuinty’s Administration”.

• “About $300 million is owed to the City of Toronto, now desperately looking for ways to raise revenue and cut costs”-Toronto Star

LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS

Recent Events Public Safety vs. Revenue Generation

CITY OF TORONTO-PUBLIC WORKS

• January 4, 2012 –Tripling of Fines and Permits?

• PWS 11.2-Relieving Rush Hour Traffic

• PWS 11.3-Permits for Commercial Vehicles

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Province of Ontario Refusals-Service Ontario

• Private Profiteering-Hospitals and Impark

• Amendment to Motor Vehicles Registration Act

Public Policy Intent of Accessible Parking Rights vs. Revenue. Charter vs. Bylaws. Public Safety vs. Politics

• City of Toronto Bylaws and exceptions thereof pertaining to Accessible Parking are provided due to ongoing failures to provide infrastructural, pedestrian and functional device accessibility.

• It is not charity

• It is the transcending law and failures thereof

• Most vulnerable politicized and victimized

• Truly Disabled and Increasingly so

• First Province in Canada

• Last Developed Country

• Demographic Realities

• Commercial Property Practices and Refusals • Are exacerbating “On-Street” demands and close proximity parking

• Refusing existing accessibility requirements and enforcement

• Ticketing valid vouchers and exempted permit holders

• Daily Parking 5% of Monthly Income of ODSP Recipient

• Refusing judicial or administrative review to force revenue

• Hospitals are prime offenders and Impark

• Public Infrastructure and Public Safety

• People with disabilities are increasing.

• Public infrastructure is deficient

• Public safety is placed in peril

• Officers and Citizens are Accosted

• Original Intent and Legal Responsibility Refused

Accessible Parking Realities In Toronto At Whose and What Cost?

• Who and Why in People with Disabilities and Maturing Population Park in Toronto

• “As the provincial capital, national economic hub, centralized and specialized health care center, center of infrastructural assets, and equal opportunity public service employment”.

Charter Refusals Human Rights Breaches Institutional Risk Victimization Failed Adjudication Truly Disabled Cost Increases Policing Compromised Public Safety Peril

Policing and Adjudication

Public Policy Failures

Media Culpability

Operational Education

Permit Abuse

Off-Street and Commercial Practices

Transcending Statutes

Public Collections

Failed Infrastructure

Failure to Verify

Causes and Effects of Accessible Parking Wars

Commercialization

Downloading

Judicial

Systemic Ignorance

Political Pandering

Refusals to Rectify

Institutional Indifference

On-Street Impacts

Public Education

Revenue Ramifications

Fundamental Rights Breaches

Policing Solutions Where There is a Will There is Always a Way

INFRASTRUCTURE:

• Accessibility Deficiencies Need to Be Adjudicated

• Pedestrian routes

• Device Functionality

• Off-Street Accessible Parking Signage and Enforcement

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

• MLEO Program Integrity

• Commercial Practices and Adjudication Processes

• Amendment to Motor Vehicles Registration Act to restrict plate denial practices

POLICING

• Operation Training of Officers

• Permit Abuse Program

• Corporate Communications Plan

• Position to Council

• No Commercial Permits

Next Steps….. 1. Motion to Council pertaining to people with disabilities, parking and the

infrastructural, pedestrian and payment device deficiencies 2. Do not support increased fines for people with disabilities 3. Do not support commercial permits for couriers and delivery agents 4. Create corporate communications plan to attend to erroneous disability

media reports 5. Engage additional education and standing orders for rank and file to such

ends

Thank You

Gerald Parker

Executive Director

Institute of Canadian Justice