Alberta's disability advocate calling provincial gov't to create accessibility law

Alberta's disablement advocate, Greg McMeekin, is calling connected the provincial authorities to articulation astir each different Canadian state and walk an accessibility act.

Recommendations successful enactment of an all-encompassing instrumentality are successful a June 2023 study that was submitted to the provincial government.

The report, which the authorities didn't publically release, was obtained by disablement advocates done a state of accusation request. Zachary Weeks, an Edmonton-based disablement advocator and accessibility consultant, then shared it connected his website.

"The hazard of not addressing accessibility present is acold greater than waiting for a aboriginal opportunity," the study says.

"Accessibility authorities helps governments fulfil their work to guarantee that those with disabilities are treated equally."

Alberta presently has a "patchwork of legislation" made up of 30 policies and laws, including the gathering codification and the Alberta Bill of Rights.

The study called for the authorities to walk an Accessible Alberta Act and associated regulations, wrong 18 months of receiving the recommendations. It besides called for the authorities to travel with measures to guarantee compliance.

The legislation would instrumentality a proactive approach — instead of the existent complaint-driven process — and "identify, remove, and forestall barriers for persons with disabilities, and allow(s) for greater opportunities that amended prime of beingness and societal inclusion," the study says.

The Accessible Alberta Act should screen much than conscionable carnal barriers successful buildings, the study says. People with disabilities besides look barriers with communications, societal attitudes, technology and organizations. 

The authorities indispensable besides see measures "to make nationalist awareness, procurement and declaration policies, improvement of standards, timelines for implementation and compliance and enforcement," the study says.

McMeekin was unavailable for an interrogation with CBC News. But successful a written statement, helium said the report's recommendations stay a precedence for the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, noting that they have not yet been implemented.

"I am hopeful arsenic this authorities volition guarantee greater accessibility successful the state for everyone," helium said. 

More enforcement needed

Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, whose section is successful complaint of programs that assistance radical with disabilities, referred questions connected imaginable accessibility authorities to Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.

McIver told CBC News helium believes the authorities needs to beryllium much assertive successful enforcing the existent rules.

He said the government will earnestly see the report's advice. He wouldn't say whether it's moving up with legislation. 

"We effort to marque changeless improvements to what we bash for disabled radical successful Alberta," McIver said. "Let maine beryllium clear: our occupation isn't done until disabled radical archer america our occupation is done."

The job is acold from complete, said Weeks, the advocate in Edmonton who shared the 2023 study online.

"We are inactive reasoning successful a accepted lens of what disablement looks similar successful the '80s and '90s," helium said. 

"That's wherever and however we've ended up wherever we are."

Weeks referred to results from the latest Canadian Survey connected Disability, which suggest much than 1 successful 4 Canadians reported having a disablement successful 2022. He said anyone, astatine immoderate constituent successful their lives, could articulation the demographic.

Report not a priority

People with disabilities are bushed of articulator work from the government, said Weeks, who called on the state to commencement the legislative process, even if answers to immoderate problems aren't instantly available. 

"It's OK if we don't hold connected each detail," Weeks said. "But what we should each hold connected is that radical with disabilities shouldn't beryllium near retired of the system."

St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud, the absorption NDP social services critic, agreed with Weeks, noting the legislative process volition instrumentality years to complete.

Renaud is disappointed the authorities hasn't moved on the report's recommendations.

"The information that they've hidden the study is precise wide that this is successful nary mode a priority," she said.