Barrier Free Manitoba

We received Steve Ashton's response on the afternoon of February 6.

We are pleased to post the text of Mr. Ashton's response below. His response is also available for download (Word / PDF).

(Reformatted from the original)

Malinda Roberts
President
Abilities Manitoba

Janet Forbes
Steering Committee Member
Barrier-Free Manitoba

February 6, 2015

Dear friends,

Thank you for your recent letter. To use a phrase I heard from David Steen, I am a temporarily able bodied person. A healthy progressive society ensures that those who face barriers get the support they need to enjoy all the rights and privileges everyone enjoys.

I am proud to serve in a Government that worked with the Disability Caucus to put Manitoba in the forefront in meeting the needs of the community of people living with Disabilities. I am proud that as Minister of Government services and then Infrastructure, I worked to improve access to government buildings. If I am successful, going forward, I commit myself and my government to a close working relationship with your community and its leaders. 

As premier, I will work to ensure the timely implementation of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, I will act upon Abilities Manitoba’s five-priority pathway, and I will assign responsibility for an action plan for improving circumstances for persons with disabilities. If I am successful, I commit to establishing a critical path with you and the minister responsible on how we can move this agenda forward in a timely and acceptable manner.

Thank you for taking the initiative to ensure the candidates for leader of the Manitoba New Democratic party are aware of the issues and for advancing an agenda that can make our party and our province a leader on this important objective.

Sincerely,

Steve Ashton