Barrier Free Canada applauds the tabling of the Accessible Canada Act by the
Minister of Science, Sport, and Persons with Disabilities
OTTAWA (June 22, 2018) – Barrier Free Canada/Canada sans barrières (BFC/CSB)
is celebrating the introduction on Wednesday of the long-awaited federal
accessibility legislation, the Accessible Canada Act. It is hoped that the
legislation will help to make accessibility and inclusion a priority for all
federally-regulated and federally-funded organizations.
Over the past several years, BFC/CSB and a myriad of other charitable and
not-for-profit organizations have worked tirelessly holding consultations,
conducting research, and preparing recommendations and advisory reports to
inform the content of this federal legislation.
“Wednesday was a momentous day,” said Donna Jodhan, President and founder of
BFC/CSB. “Canadians with disabilities have long dreamt of the day when
accessibility and inclusion in government services would be clearly
mandated, and we are now one step closer to that full inclusion.”
In 2010, Canada ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), pledging to address the exclusion and
accessibility barriers that people with disabilities face in Canada. The
introduction of this legislation is a tangible step toward making this a
lived reality for Canadians with disabilities.
Legislation exists to protect the rights of Canadians with disabilities
within the federal sector, such as the Canadian Human Rights Code, the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the UNCRPD itself. But as Anthony Tibbs,
Treasurer of BFC/CSB and a lawyer with Merchant Law Group explained, “These
tools are reactive and provide remediation for people whose rights have been
denied – but only if the person is willing or able to fight through a court
process. What Canada needs, and what we hope this legislation will offer,
are proactive standards (and meaningful oversight) to prevent the
discrimination from happening and take the enforcement obligation off the
backs of the people who are meant to be protected.”
Jodhan added, “A few years ago I was forced to take the federal government
to Court because government web sites and online services were needlessly
inaccessible to me as a person who is blind. I hope that federal legislation
mandating accessibility will avoid anyone else having to repeat that
adventure in the future.”
BFC/CSB will be reviewing the proposed law in detail in preparation for
hearings anticipated to be held after parliament returns by the committees
tasked with reviewing the legislation.
BFC/CSB is a non-partisan not-for-profit organization that has been
advocating for legislation to ensure accessibility and inclusion for
Canadians with disabilities at both the federal and provincial levels for
more than five years.
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For more information, write to info@barrierfreecanada.org or call Anthony
Tibbs (514-248-7777).
