‘With an innovative and creative approach to accessible building solutions, we are one step closer to building an accessible and disability-inclusive Canada’
Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, and Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and industry, are collaborating on developing improved accessibility requirements for buildings.
Accessibility Standards Canada and the National Research Council of Canada are exploring how their organizations can collaborate to support the development of standards and codes, respectively, to increase the accessibility of buildings for Canadians.
“In our consultations leading to the Accessible Canada Act, Canadians made it clear that an accessible built environment is a priority. We have adopted a disability inclusive approach to removing barriers for persons with disabilities in Canada, and are eager to see the results of this collaboration between Accessibility Standards Canada and the National Research Council of Canada,” said Qualtrough. “With an innovative and creative approach to accessible building solutions, we are one step closer to building an accessible and disability inclusive Canada.”
Many Canadians living with multiple sclerosis (MS) face inequitable, insufficient and unaffordable access to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), according to a recent report.
The standards developed by Accessibility Standards Canada will inform accessibility requirements for buildings in Canada, and the community of persons with disabilities will be involved in the standard development process.
New standards will set out how the Government of Canada and federal sector organizations prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility. These standards have the potential to be used as models for other regulating jurisdictions as well, according to the federal government.
“Our Government is committed to improving building accessibility for all Canadians. This partnership will bring Canada's accessibility experts together so that they might find new ways of collaborating, and develop new building solutions that will benefit everyone. I look forward to seeing what innovations they come up with,” said Bains.
The announcement was made on Dec. 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
“This day is about increasing awareness and understanding of persons with disabilities in Alberta, while celebrating the unique contributions they make to our society as a whole,” said Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s minister of community and social services, on that same day.
“We all benefit from a diverse and inclusive society that supports the choices of Albertans with disabilities,” he said. “Each and every one of us has a role to play in the success of the province. The important work done by our community partners helps to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
