In 2010, eight people with disabilities filed human rights applications against Toronto, Sarnia, Smiths Falls and Kitchener to challenge mandatory separation distances for homes for Ontarians with disabilities.
On October 6, 2014 Smiths Falls Council became the fourth municipality to remove discriminatory sections of their zoning bylaws. All four Ontario municipalities revoked their zoning laws that limited supportive housing for people with disabilities within their municipality.
The human rights applications were filed on behalf of the Dream Team, a group of advocates living with mental health disabilities. “In the future, people will scratch their heads and wonder why a legal process was even necessary to stop people from being excluded,” said Dream Team member Phillip Dufresne.