TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Minister 3 Why Canada needs accessibility legislation 5 Our discussion with Canadians 7 What we mean by accessibility and disability 10 Consulting directly with individuals 11 Ideas and key findings 12 Areas of focus moving forward 16 Ensuring the new legislation is working 21 Changing the culture 28 Conclusion 32
WHY CANADA NEEDS ACCESSIBILITY LEGISLATION As Canadians, we all benefit from accessibility when we and our family members, friends, neighbours, classmates and co-workers are able to fully participate and contribute in our communities and workplaces without barriers. These barriers, however, continue to exist today and limit the social, political and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities across Canada. “We need people to dream about a better world. How this government responds to your views about what’s important – not just over the next couple of years, or the next election cycle, but for the next decade and generation – will help us remain focused on what really matters.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Accessible Canada National Youth Forum Examples of these barriers include: negative attitudes or beliefs about what a person with a disability can or cannot do; buildings and spaces that cannot be accessed or are not easy to navigate; information that is difficult or impossible to access, read or understand either due to technology or the way it is presented; computers, equipment and web applications that are difficult or impossible to use; and rules and practices that leave individuals out. ACCESSIBLE CANADA Creating new national accessibility legislation What we learned from Canadians
OUR DISCUSSION WITH CANADIANS In November 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Minister Carla Qualtrough to engage Canadians directly about what is needed in new legislation that would help remove barriers and prevent new barriers from being created for persons with disabilities. In June 2016, Minister Qualtrough began her discussion with Canadians by launching a new website, Accessible Canada, where she asked all Canadians to think about what accessibility means to them and what it could mean for their communities. Between June 2016 and February 2017, over 6,000 Canadians and over 90 organizations shared their ideas about an accessible Canada, marking the largest and most accessible consultation on disability issues that Canada has ever seen. The consultations reflected the spirit and hope that Canadians have toward the proposed legislation and strove to honour the disability community’s principle of “nothing about us without us.” Canadians were encouraged to share their ideas and were offered many different opportunities to do so. Over 4,300 people answered questions on-line and over 200 people shared their ideas via letters, emails, videos or phone. Over 90 reports were provided by disability organizations, unions, businesses and other levels of government. Over 1,400 people participated in 18 meetings held across Canada. 115 youth from across the country attended a one-day Youth Forum hosted by the Minister. These young leaders with disabilities worked together to share their ideas. The Prime Minister also attended and hosted a question and answer period with participants. Over 110 experts attended thematic roundtables hosted by the Minister on disability issues. At these meetings, specific accessibility topics were discussed such as how to make public spaces, transport, and customer service more accessible. ACCESSIBLE CANADA Creating new national accessibility legislation What we learned from Canadians