A Call for a British Columbians with Disabilities Act

Photo of the flag of British Columbia, which depicts a sun, the ocean, and the Union Jack, flying in the wind.At the VDRC’s annual general meeting, September 28, 2016, keynote speaker Albert Ruel talked about the grassroots organizing to get the provincial government to pass accessibility legislation with teeth. Albert is a member of the steering committee of Barrier Free BC which is leading the campaign. The legislation would be called the British Columbians with Disabilities Act and would be designed to make BC a fully accessible province.

Prime Minister Trudeau is currently following through on his commitment to enact a Canadians with Disabilities Act that will remove and prevent the creation of new barriers in areas under federal jurisdiction. Now would be the time for BC to adopt such legislation regarding areas under provincial jurisdiction.

The purpose of a British Columbians with Disabilities Act should be to:
• set the goal of making BC a fully accessible and barrier-free province for all people with disabilities by a designated date;
• require the Government of BC to lead BC to this goal;
• require the Government of BC to create and enforce accessibility standards that will let organizations know what they must do to remove and prevent barriers against people with disabilities;
• ensure that the Government of BC and provincially-regulated organizations never use public money to create or perpetuate barriers against people with disabilities;
• encourage BC companies to develop fully accessible goods and services for sale in domestic and international markets, based on principles of universal design.

The Victoria Disability Resource Centre supports Barrier-Free BC’s call for the enactment of a strong, effective and enforceable British Columbians with Disabilities Act.

 

For more information:

Online: www.barrierfreebc.org

Twitter: @barrierfreebc

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