GET REAL

Upper Canada Mall has more than adequate washroom facilities. I've used them and never seen dirty, wet floors any time I've been there. Quite the opposite. 

The last time I travelled to Ottawa on the 401 ,the disabled washrooms had been updated and 

certainly improved. I don't think Ontario, needs to take a back seat to any other area  for clean, adequate facilities. 

I often see groups of disabled in wheelchairs, with attendants , at Upper Canada Mall and think 

that's a nice outing for people otherwise confined and it  reflects a caring community. 

This morning a petition is circulating to compel Upper Canada to provide a  washroom facility adequate 

to accommodate a changing bench, a lift and room for two attendants. 

The alternative, they say,  is lying on a dirty wet floor between a garbage can waiting to be emptied and a toilet. 

If that were true , I don't see that as an option. I am shocked  it would be considered. I think anyone who subjects a disabled person to those conditions should have their authority challenged. I am appalled.

As to changing the Building Code to require Upper Canada Mall to provide a facility such as described,

the same lack of judgement applies. 

A Building Code is a rigid document. 

Aurora had  a Fabricland once. It was a franchise. 

It doesn't exist any more. 

The toilet  was for staff. It was not in the public area. Accessible through a narrow path between 

rolls of fabric and other stock. 

A mother with a child demanded access. It was not practical. A complaint was lodged with the town bylaw office. It resulted in an order to provide public washrooms . Which was entirely impractical.

Pressure  was maintained, resulting in the business closing. 

Neither the mother nor the child ,nor the sewing community ,nor the Town of Aurora benefitted 

from what was an entirely unreasonable demand in the particular circumstances. 

If the mother had not complained ,the bylaw officer would not have been involved. Without interference, the franchise would have carried on providing a service. 

But the Building Code allowed the order. No judgement was exercised. 

I will not be signing a petition to require Upper Canada Mall to provide a facility such as described 

for people so severely disabled as to need space for a changing bench, a lift and room for two 

attendants. It's not realistic. 

Businesses are facing challenges. 80,000 jobs were lost in Ontario in January. Many of them would

be from Sear's closing. People in public office need to pay attention to these things.