Carla Qualtrough, who serves as the Minister for Sport and Persons with Disabilities, is holding consultations as she prepares to draft Canada’s first national accessibility legislation. The creation of such a law is referenced in her 2015 mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlining Qualtrough’s ministerial responsibilities.
In September, Qualtrough was interviewed by Jonathan Charlton of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Asked about the purpose of the legislation, the minister explained that it would require “businesses, service providers, program deliverers within federal jurisdiction to remove barriers for people with disabilities, (instead) of waiting until someone is discriminated against and human rights law kicks in.”
She cited the example of someone being denied a job opportunity on grounds of disability; with the new regulation, the employer would have been made aware of opportunities for inclusion beforehand. Government agencies and federally regulated businesses such as banks, telecommunications companies and Via Rail will be affected when it is put in place. Qualtrough, who is visually impaired, believes that most people have “a genuine interest in being inclusive but (do not know) how.” Much of her early work will focus on education and “dispelling a lot of myths” related to hiring disabled employees.
Local disability rights groups are commenting on the legislation as Qualtrough holds public forums in their communities. Denise McKee, executive director of the Northwest Territories Disabilities Council in Yellowknife, said, “I certainly hope that the Canadian government takes a strong leadership role…and (aligns) itself with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We’re seeing gaps (in disability services) from diagnosis straight through to end-of-life decision making.” Qualtrough visited the city on September 27.
The travel schedule is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada website. Canadians can also make their views known by email, by mail, over the phone, at one of the forums, or online until February 2017. According to the Toronto Star, the minister “will report on the consultations next spring” and hopes to introduce the legislation “by the end of 2017 or early 2018.” The government has received “more than 700 submissions” since July.
Qualtrough was a human rights lawyer and Paralympic swimmer before being elected MP in Delta, British Columbia last October.
