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New Political Analysis from the Academy

Oct 09, 2012

Karine Levasseur, Assistant Professor from the University of Manitoba, recently published a fine article on the factors that led the government to delay passage of substantive rights legislation in 2011.

Here is an exceprt from her concluding thoughts:

 

While other jurisdictions, notably Ontario, have actively pursued accessibility legislation, Manitoba’s journey towards establishing a barrier free province through the development of accessibility standards has been over-processed. Bill 47 proved to be easy to pass and because it is entirely procedural as opposed to substantive, there is no real opposition.

By prescribing yet another consultative process, Bill 47 unnecessarily delays the development of accessibility standards so it is perhaps no surprise that there was such tepid support by disability advocates for Bill 47 before the Standing Committee on Human Resources.

Despite this delay, Manitoba will be one of a small handful of jurisdictions with accessibility standards. To its credit, the Province of Manitoba has shown leadership in this area because systemic change is not often facilitated and adding a new instrument to the policy toolbox could go a long way to making Manitoba barrier free for persons with disabilities.

The article, Unnecessary delay? Bill 47, The Accessibility Advisory Council Act and Amendments to The Government Purchases Act, appears in the latest edition of the Manitoba Law Journal. It is posted online at http://robsonhall.ca/mlj/content/unnecessary-delay-bill-47-accessibility-advisory-council-act-and-amendments-government. It can also be downloaded as a PDF.

 

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