Barrier Free Manitoba

And Then There Were Three: Nova Scotia becomes third province to pass landmark accessibility-rights legislation

Nova Scotia joined both Ontario and Manitoba on April 27th as the first three Canadian provinces to establish accessibility-rights legislation that creates legal requirements for the proactive and systemic removal of barriers to equitable access faced by persons with disabilities and the prevention of new barriers.

Here's the link to the NS government's media release: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20170427007

As in both Ontario and Manitoba, the passage of this legislation was only made possible through the determined work of, and advocacy by, that province's disability communities. Indeed, community pressure resulted in a much stronger Act than the Bill (Bill 59) that had originally been tabled back in November 2016.

For media coverage of the initial bill's limitations, go to: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/accessibility-bill-59-disability-disabled-law-disabled-1.3840031

Here's a link to coverage of the bill heading into 3rd Reading: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/accessibility-legislation-new-law-disabled-government-1.4083100

Finally, here is a link to a PDF of the bill with all the revisions that passed Third Reading: http://nslegislature.ca/pdfs/committees/62_3_LACSubmissions/20170424/20170424-059-001.pdf

We at Barrier-Free Manitoba heartily congratulate our counterparts in Nova Scotia for the success of their efforts in creating a truly inclusive society.

Next up on the legislative front, we think, will be passage of national accessibility-rights legislation - a commitment made by the current federal government.