Statement
March 11, 2019 Vancouver, British Columbia Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, today issued the following statement:
"Every day, millions of Canadians across the country rely on transportation to get around – whether it's to go on vacation, get to work or to visit family. However, we know that barriers to accessible transportation continue to prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in society and having dignified independence.
Throughout our government's cross-country consultations on the proposed Accessible Canada Act, I heard time and time again that accessible transportation is a priority for Canadians with disabilities. While the Act is still making its way through the Parliamentary process, we are wasting no time to tackle this issue.
Today, through the Canadian Transportation Agency, we are proposing accessibility regulations for the federal transportation network that would put in place measures and required standards for the realization of a barrier-free transportation system across Canada. The impact of these regulations, once finalized, cannot be understated. With them, we are one step closer to making Canada's national transportation system the most accessible in the world.
As a person with a disability and an avid traveller, these proposed regulations signal more independence, greater opportunities and a leveled playing field. They signal a shift from having persons with disabilities more likely to be unemployed, to live in poverty and to earn less than persons without a disability – to persons with disabilities finding success and being active members of society. They signal the respect of human rights.
These proposed regulations are a great example of regulations Canadians can expect to see come out of the Accessible Canada Act, once it receives Royal Assent. By proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers in a number of priority areas, like transportation, we can ensure we are inclusive from the start."
