The Ontario government has launched an online public consultation to receive feedback on proposed regulatory changes to provincial elevator laws.
The government says it's now seeking input on proposed regulatory changes under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 and that these new rules will help to ensure that elevators are well-maintained and meet updated safety requirements.
Ontarians can share their input online until August 4, 2020.
"Ontarians living and working in high-rises want elevators to be better maintained with fewer breakdowns and less downtime, and they want more information about elevator disruptions," said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
"Long wait times and elevator outages have been a long-standing and frustrating issue for people, particularly those with accessibility needs. We are responding to the concerns of the Auditor General of Ontario and, at the same time, we want to assure all Ontarians that they have a voice in helping us create stronger rules to protect them."
READ: 80 Per Cent Of Elevators In Ontario Failed Inspections In 2018
The government says it will be working with the TSSA to enhance elevator safety and availability, and help consumers, including those with accessibility needs, to make more informed choices as homebuyers and renters.
As part of these enhancements, the TSSA would be required to publish elevator outage data for residential buildings online, providing valuable information that will help consumers make better-informed decisions about their future homes.
There are approximately 58,700 elevators in Ontario, of which almost 20,000 are located in residential buildings.
In 2018, just over 80% of elevators failed their TSSA inspection, mostly because maintenance and safety work required by law was not done on time.
