The City of Victoria wants to make the city and the province B次元官网网址渂arrier free.B次元官网网址�
Council passed a motion Thursday asking the provincial government to enact a B次元官网网址渟trong and effectiveB次元官网网址� British Columbians with Disabilities Act, which was added to the consent agenda at committee of the whole. Other provinces, including Ontario and Manitoba, have provincial accessibility laws, which include such regulations as building and structural guidelines, and allowing service animals.
Coun. Jeremy Loveday, who put the motion forward, said people with disabilities need more legal protections. Currently, the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Human Rights Tribunal is the only body used to address accessibility issues, but the province does have a non-binding Accessibility 2024 10-year action plan.
B次元官网网址淎ccessibility is a human rights issue, but without laws to mandate these changes, progress has been very slow, and has unfortunately had to rely on the court system to get any movement at all,B次元官网网址� Loveday said. B次元官网网址淚 believe as a society we can and need to do better, and this sort of provincial legislation would be the next step.B次元官网网址�
This sort of change would align with what the City of Victoria has already been doing for three years, he said, referring to consultations with the cityB次元官网网址檚 Accessibility Working Group and Accessibility Fund. A pilot project looking at textured surfaces at curb cuts, and accessible pedestrian signals at intersections to help those with visual impairments, are some of the initiatives that came out of the working group earlier this year.
RELATED:
Chris Mark, a member of the accessibility group, said these kinds of changes are needed to help people with disabilities get around the city.
Something seemingly as simple as ordering a taxi can difficult for someone who uses a wheelchair, said Mark, who has been quadriplegic for 12 years and finds heB次元官网网址檚 often told he has to book a cab 24 hours in advance.
B次元官网网址淚 just want to do stuff like a normal person, right?B次元官网网址� he said.
He has to plan out his day well in advance, from whether he wants to wear a heavy jacket B次元官网网址� he wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to take it off once itB次元官网网址檚 on B次元官网网址� to the routes he will travel, to where he can find an accessible washroom. He phones ahead to find out whether places will have ramps or electric doors. Parking too, is one regular issue he faces.
And while the city is making some changes, he said having consistent accessibility requirements across the province would make it much easier for people like him, and for others with other physical and invisible disabilities, to access public spaces and businesses with fewer barriers.
B次元官网网址淚 hope thereB次元官网网址檚 some financial incentive to small businessesB次元官网网址that] want to put in an automatic door,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here should be some kind of financial incentive from the governmentB次元官网网址o it doesnB次元官网网址檛 fall down on the small businesses.B次元官网网址�
