Bill 103 2004

An Act to amend the
Blind Persons' Rights Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1.  The title of the Blind Persons' Rights Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Persons with Disabilities Rights Act

2.  Subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Definitions

(1)  In this Act,

"guide dog" means a dog trained as a guide for a person with a disability and having the qualifications prescribed by the regulations; ("chien de personne handicapée")

"person with a disability" means a person who, because of a disability as defined in subsection 2 (1) of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, is dependent on a guide dog or white cane. ("personne handicapée")

3.  (1)  The following provisions of the Act are amended by striking out "blind person" wherever that expression appears and substituting in each case "person with a disability":

1. Subsection 2 (1) in the portion after clause (b).

2. Subsection 2 (2) in the portion after clause (b).

(2)  The following provisions of the Act are amended by striking out "blind person" wherever that expression appears and substituting in each case "person with a disability":

1. Subsection 2 (3).

2. Section 3.

3. Subsection 4 (1).

(3)  Subsection 4 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out "blind person" and substituting "person with a disability".

(4)  Subsection 6 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out "blind person" wherever that expression appears and substituting in each case "person with a disability".

Commencement

4.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

5.  The short title of this Act is the Blind Persons' Rights Amendment Act, 2004.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Blind Persons' Rights Act to extend the rights of blind persons under the Act to all persons with disabilities as defined in the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 if they are dependent on a guide dog or white cane.