With councillors in Victoria already questioning the provinceB次元官网网址檚 decision to make B.C. municipalities responsible for accessible parking standards at new developments, the father of a child who uses a wheelchair echoes their concerns.
B次元官网网址淚n the Capital Region, weB次元官网网址檝e got 13 districts B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 13 possible different standards for those that even have them,B次元官网网址� David Willows said.
But as of Dec. 10, none of them have a requirement for new developments in CRD to have accessible parking, although the Town of Sidney references the BC Building Code in its design standards. While there is a National Building Code, in B.C. it only applied to federally regulated property.
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The provinceB次元官网网址檚 previous standard to have one accessible parking stall for new developments wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough even before it was discontinued on Dec. 10, Willows said.
B次元官网网址淔irst we need to recognize the provincial standard for accessible parking was poor,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut it gave us a minimum benchmark to work from. When you take a standard like that away, youB次元官网网址檙e telling people with disabilities that your ability to access the community isnB次元官网网址檛 a priority for the government. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not taking responsibility.B次元官网网址�
In his research, Willows found Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador all have accessible parking included in either their provincial building code or accessibility legislation.
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B次元官网网址淗aving it regulated at a provincial level is not uncommon in Canada,B次元官网网址� Willows said.
Earlier this year, Willows did his own assessment of accessible on-street parking in downtown Victoria, where he found some of the parking spots allotted didnB次元官网网址檛 exist. Of the accessible spaces he found, Willows said most couldnB次元官网网址檛 be used by people with disabilities. It was during this review that Willows heard about the amendment to the B.C. Building CodeB次元官网网址檚 accessible parking standards.
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While the public review process for the changes began on Dec. 12, 2017, Willows said Section 3.8 B次元官网网址� which included the amendment to accessible parking B次元官网网址� was not available to read or comment on until Jan. 24, 2018. The public review period closed just over a month later on Feb. 28.
B次元官网网址淏asically, for the accessibility section, we were given less than half the time of the remainder of the code to provide feedback to the ministry of housing on the proposed code changes,B次元官网网址� Willows said.
Councillor Marianne Alto and Charlayne Thornton-Joe will be putting forward their motion for staff to examine what the new policy will mean to the CRD. In an interview with Black Press Media before the Dec. 13 council meeting, Alto said the City of Victoria had only found out recently about the change.
Willows will also be speaking at council on Thursday. He said he supports the councillorsB次元官网网址� motion.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important for communities to let the province know they donB次元官网网址檛 think this is appropriate. There are certain standards that the province does need to maintain,B次元官网网址� he said.
In the new year, Willows and MLA Adam Olsen will also be meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Housing to discuss their concerns.
B次元官网网址淲e are not looking for pity, we are looking for the tools we need to be able to have equitable access and the ability to be active and engaged members of the community,B次元官网网址� Willows said. B次元官网网址淧hysical accessibility of the built environment is one key element to this.B次元官网网址�
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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
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