Government introduces Accessible Saskatchewan Act in effort to remove disability barriers

The Saskatchewan government introduced new legislation Tuesday aiming to break down accessibility barriers for those living with disabilities.

If passed, the Accessible Saskatchewan Act will give the Saskatchewan government the ability to establish regulations and standards for accessibility in areas involving the built environment, information and communications, employment, transportation, service animals, and procurement and service delivery.

According to Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan’s minister for social services, the new legislation is an important step to creating a province that is inclusive and accessible for all.

“We are working to create a Saskatchewan where persons with disabilities can fully participate,” Makowsky said in a statement, “because a strong province is one where everyone is included.”

According to Makowsky, the provincial government has improved accessibility in public buildings and parks, increased the inventory of accessible housing available, and made investments in programs and services aimed at increasing accessibility. But more needs to be done.

“If passed,” Makowsky said, “this legislation will be the first step to prevent and remove accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities, by allowing government to establish accessibility standards and regulations in the future.”

Makowsky noted that engagement with people living with disabilities helped form the new legislation, and those consultations will continue as the government works towards its accessibility goals.

If the new act is passed, the government will create an Accessibility Advisory Committee “with at least half of the members being persons with disabilities or from organizations that represent people with disabilities” to advise the government as it develops accessibility standards.

The act will also see the creation of a Saskatchewan Accessibility Office to monitor compliance and enforcement, and to engage with the public and broaden awareness of the new legislation.

Another new measure in the act would recognize sign languages as the primary form of communication for deaf people.

The Accessible Saskatchewan Act will include an annual published report on actions taken to implement the new legislation, the government noted.

More information on the bill and its contents can be found on the provincial government’s website.