Accessibility law in works
LEGISLATION WOULD IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DISABLED
The federal minister responsible for crafting Canada’s first national accessibility legislation says the law should be ready by next spring and should benefit not only people with disabilities, but their caregivers.
Kent Hehr says the timeline for the new law has shifted slightly since he took over the portfolio for sport and persons with disabilities in a recent cabinet shuffle.
The legislation, which is highly anticipated by Canada’s disabled community, was originally set to be unveiled either late this year or early 2018.
Hehr says he is up-to-speed on past consultation efforts and is moving ahead with future ones. He hopes to table the legislation before the House of Commons by next spring.
Hehr says he intends to focus on the issues disabled Canadians identified as priorities during an eight-month consultation process, including high unemployment levels and accessibility of federally run buildings and services.
But Hehr says his own experience as a quadriplegic has made him particularly aware of how the new bill could also benefit caregivers.
Hehr, who has used a wheelchair since being struck by a bullet while witnessing a drive-by shooting 27 years ago, said he has personally witnessed the essential role caregivers play and wants to be certain their contributions are never overlooked.
“I rely a tremendous amount on my mom, my girlfriend, my sister, as well as my caregiver ... without their help, their assistance, their contributions to my life, I simply could not do the job I’ve been entrusted to do,” Hehr said in an interview with the Canadian Press. “I understand, first-hand, that they have to be part of this mix.”
Hehr did not disclose details of what caregiver benefits might entail, but said the legislation was part of a government-wide approach to removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. He said he hoped the legislation would improve the lives of people with disabilities, thereby easing the load on those who provide support to them.
Hehr’s reflections on caregivers came as good news to at least one advocacy group representing their interests.
Disabled groups from coast to coast have made it clear that Canadians have lofty expectations of the federal legislation, which they maintain is long overdue to bring Canada in line with countries such as the United States.
In a report released to Carla Qualtrough, Hehr’s predecessor on the file, Canadians laid out six areas of focus for the new bill.
Those who took part in consultations wanted to see laws that would help lower unemployment rates that hover around 50 per cent for those with disabilities, reduce the number of buildings inaccessible to those with physical and intellectual disabilities, and remove accessibility barriers for the country’s air, rail, ferry and bus transportation systems.
Those consulted also named government program and service delivery as another key area of focus.