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News - Ontario
Association responds to announcement of Ontario Ombudsman’s investigation
TORONTO, ON (March 22, 2012) – This week, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin announced an investigation into the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) processes for managing and enforcing the provinces’ guidelines on determining the medical fitness to operate motor vehicles. The Canadian Diabetes Association welcomes this review as it is important to regularly monitor and assess such processes to ensure public safety.
The MTO presently receives information from physicians on medical fitness to drive related to individuals managing a number of different medical conditions which could pose a risk to safe driving. Those conditions range from respiratory health, seizure disorders and endocrine and metabolic disorders, to name a few.
“People with diabetes often face discrimination when being assessed for a driver’s license simply on the basis of their diagnosis,” says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association, “The fact is, most people with diabetes can drive safely provided they are adequately informed about their condition and its management, and take the necessary action to properly manage their diabetes.”
All Ontarians, including people with diabetes, have the right to be assessed for a license to drive a motor vehicle on an individual basis in accordance with established guidelines. To ensure appropriate assessment of people living with diabetes, the Canadian Diabetes Association, in consultation with a number of experts, developed a comprehensive set of Guidelines for Diabetes and Private and Commercial Driving (2003).
The Canadian Diabetes Association is committed to working with the government to ensure current guidelines and processes are appropriately applied and managed, and looks forward to participating in the review of the current process.
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About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Communications Associate, Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: (416) 408-7088
Cell: (416) 407-2177
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