Veteran journalist David Onley was sworn in Thursday as Ontario's 28th lieutenant-governor.

Onley took his oaths before Ontario Court of Appeal Chief Justice Warren Winkler.

A 15-gun salute by the 7th Toronto Regiment also marked Onley's installation as the queen's representative in the province.

Onley, 55, who was stricken with polio as a child, intends to make accessibility issues a top priority during his tenure.

A former Citytv personality, Onley was one of the first disabled on-camera personalities in the country and has fought for accessibility rights for much of his career.

"Accessibility is a human right and accessibility is right. My dream is of a province where disability and rights are en masse, not only for those with classically defined disabilities, such as mine, but also for those with so-called invisible disabilities," Onley said during his installation.

Onley vowed to continue his predecessor's aboriginal literacy programs and to create a twin program for computer literacy.

"At its heart it is in fact a program of accessibility where accessibility is defined as nothing more and absolutely nothing less than that which enables children to fulfill their potential," Onley said of the program.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty extended a congratulatory message to Onley from Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is on his way to Australia for the APEC summit.

"The honourable David Onley is a person committed to excellence. He is open to everyone he meets and through his many accomplishments he has been an inspiration and a role model for people throughout Ontario and Canada," Flaherty said Wednesday from Queen's Park.

Premier Dalton McGuinty paid tribute to Onley's family members for their unwavering support and influence.

"You helped shape his Honour into the man he is and now all Ontarians stand to benefit from that," McGuinty said.

MGuinty celebrated Onley's past achievements and praised him for his unwavering commitment to the province.

"I am confident sir that your sound judgment, your tremendous character and your lengthy record of public service will serve our province well."

Born in Midland and raised in Scarborough, Onley has been an education reporter, as well as a science and technology reporter.

Onley replaces James Bartleman, who became lieutenant-governor in March 2002.