Bill 73 2003

An Act to facilitate
families by requiring that
all buildings open to the public
be equipped with
family restroom facilities

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

Definition

1. In this Act,

"building" includes an arena, stadium, shopping centre, casino or other structure to which the public has access.

Family restroom facilities to be available

2. (1) Family restroom facilities that meet the standard set out in subsection (2) shall be installed in a readily accessible place in the following locations:

1. Buildings under the jurisdiction of the Province of Ontario, including buildings to which the Crown in right of Ontario or a Crown agency has title or of which the Crown in right of Ontario or a Crown agency is a lessee.

2. Municipal buildings to which the public has general access.

3. Privately owned buildings over 50,000 square feet to which the public has general access.

Same

(2) A family restroom facility means a restroom facility that is suitable for the needs of families or groups that are travelling with babies, with children and with people with disabilities and that,

(a) includes a toilet, a washbasin and a change table that is capable of supporting an adult;

(b) is accessible to people with disabilities;

(c) is large enough to permit a member of the family or group to accompany another member of the family or group to assist him or her in using the facilities; and

(d) is open to both genders and permits a person of one gender to assist a member of the other gender in using the facilities.

Commencement

3. This Act comes into force on January 1, 2005.

Short title

4. The short title of this Act is the Family Restroom Facilities Act, 2003.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill requires that family restroom facilities be available, as of January 1, 2005, in significant public buildings, including privately owned buildings such as shopping centres, arenas and stadiums that have significant public access.