Canadians have their say on an Accessible Canada in Moncton, New Brunswick, and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Public sessions in Victoria and Québec are happening next week

OTTAWA, Nov. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - In the past two weeks, the Government of Canada held public sessions in Moncton, New Brunswick, and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, as part of the consultation process to inform planned accessibility legislation. The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, is leading consultations on the accessibility barriers Canadians face in their daily lives, as well as listening and engaging with Canadians on what the Government of Canada can do to address these issues.

Next stops for public sessions include Victoria on November 7; Québec on November 10; Montréal on November 16; Vancouver on November 26; and Ottawa on November 30. Canadians can pre-register at [email protected], or just present themselves at the time and place of the public session.

All Canadians are encouraged to participate in the consultation by attending an in-person session near them, or by completing the online questionnaire. More information on in-person locations and a link to the questionnaire can be found at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada. Canadians are also encouraged to follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and the #AccessibleCanada hashtag. The consultation process will run until February 28, 2017.

Quotes

"I am thrilled to hear from Canadians first-hand about their vision for an Accessible Canada. The Government of Canada is working hard to ensure that all Canadians have equal opportunity in their communities and workplaces, and it is energizing to hear Canadians' suggestions for how we can do just that. This is an incredible opportunity and one that will have a historical impact on millions of Canadians living with a disability. I encourage all Canadians to get involved in this consultation."
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

"The consultation sessions on the proposed national accessibility legislation held in Moncton provided a very useful forum for community stakeholders and private-sector representatives to get together to discuss issues around current barriers to the inclusion of citizens with disabilities, as well as how such accessibility legislation could be framed to provide a mechanism to create national standards and to ensure ongoing compliance to better serve the needs of citizens with different disabilities." 
– Randy Dickinson, Co-Chairperson of New Brunswick Disability Awareness Week

"Accessibility means not having to ask for an‎ accessible washroom, or a sign language interpreter or for extra time to complete an exam; not having to ask for materials in an alternate format, not having to ask for discriminatory policies and practices to be removed—not having to ask because we live in a society where everything, including policies, practices, goods and services, and the built environment is fully accessible for all Canadians."
– Joanne MacDonald, O.C., O.N.L., L.L.D. (Hon.)

Associated Links

Consultation on Planned Accessibility Legislation 
Twitter: @AccessibleGC 
Facebook: Accessible Canada

Follow us on Twitter 

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Backgrounder

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Consultations to inform the development of accessibility legislation

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Canada's first Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, was mandated by the Prime Minister to lead an engagement process with stakeholders—including Canadians with disabilities, provinces, territories and municipalities—that would inform planned legislation to transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility. Starting in September until February 28, 2017, Canadians across Canada will be able to participate in the in-person consultation engagement process. The next in-person public consultations are planned to take place in the following cities:

Victoria, British Columbia / November 7, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT)
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour, 728 Humboldt Street, Victoria

Québec, Quebec / November 10, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, 179 Grande Allée Ouest, Québec

Montréal, Quebec / November 16, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)
Palais des congres, 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal

Vancouver, British Columbia / November 26, 2016 (2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT)
Vancouver Convention Center – West Building,1055 Canada Place, Vancouver

Ottawa, Ontario / November 30, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place (LeBreton Flats), Ottawa

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island / December 8, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. AT)
Murphy's Community Centre
200 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Halifax, Nova Scotia / December 9, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. AT)
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
1055 Marginal Road, Halifax

Toronto, Ontario / February 8, 2017 (4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)
Location TBD

Any Canadian who would like to pre-register for an in-person session, or to notify us of accommodation needs, can contact the Office for Disability Issues:

• Phone: [phone]
  TTY: 819-934-6649
  Fax: [phone]
  Email address: [email protected]
  
• Mailing address:
  Consultation – Federal Accessibility Legislation
  c/o Office for Disability Issues
  Employment and Social Development Canada
  105 Hotel-de-ville Street, 1st floor, Bag 62
  Gatineau QC  K1A 0J9

For the most up-to-date information on in-person venues and dates, and to participate online, please visit Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

Minister Qualtrough will also participate in roundtable discussions, as well as a National Youth Forum that will engage Canadian youth with disabilities in the policy discussion.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]