Alberta's disability advocate calling on provincial gov't to create accessibility law

Alberta's disability advocate, Greg McMeekin, is calling on the provincial government to join nearly every other Canadian province and pass an accessibility act.

Recommendations in support of an all-encompassing law are in a June 2023 report that was submitted to the provincial government.

The report, which the government didn't publicly release, was obtained by disability advocates through a freedom of information request. Zachary Weeks, an Edmonton-based disability advocate and accessibility consultant, then shared it on his website.

"The risk of not addressing accessibility now is far greater than waiting for a future opportunity," the report says.

"Accessibility legislation helps governments fulfil their duty to ensure that those with disabilities are treated equally."

Alberta currently has a "patchwork of legislation" made up of 30 policies and laws, including the building code and the Alberta Bill of Rights.

The report called for the government to pass an Accessible Alberta Act and associated regulations, within 18 months of receiving the recommendations. It also called for the legislation to come with measures to ensure compliance.

The legislation would take a proactive approach — instead of the current complaint-driven process — and "identify, remove, and prevent barriers for persons with disabilities, and allow(s) for greater opportunities that improve quality of life and social inclusion," the report says.

The Accessible Alberta Act should cover more than just physical barriers in buildings, the report says. People with disabilities also face barriers with communications, societal attitudes, technology and organizations. 

The legislation must also include measures "to create public awareness, procurement and contract policies, development of standards, timelines for implementation and compliance and enforcement," the report says.

McMeekin was unavailable for an interview with CBC News. But in a written statement, he said the report's recommendations remain a priority for the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, noting that they have not yet been implemented.

"I am hopeful as this legislation will ensure greater accessibility in the province for everyone," he said. 

More enforcement needed

Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, whose department is in charge of programs that assist people with disabilities, referred questions on possible accessibility legislation to Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.

McIver told CBC News he believes the government needs to be more aggressive in enforcing the current rules.

He said the government will seriously consider the report's advice. He wouldn't say whether it's moving ahead with legislation. 

"We try to make constant improvements to what we do for disabled people in Alberta," McIver said. "Let me be clear: our job isn't done until disabled people tell us our job is done."

The job is far from complete, said Weeks, the advocate in Edmonton who shared the 2023 report online.

"We are still thinking in a traditional lens of what disability looks like in the '80s and '90s," he said. 

"That's where and how we've ended up where we are."

Weeks referred to results from the latest Canadian Survey on Disability, which suggest more than one in four Canadians reported having a disability in 2022. He said anyone, at any point in their lives, could join the demographic.

Report not a priority

People with disabilities are tired of lip service from the government, said Weeks, who called on the province to start the legislative process, even if answers to some problems aren't immediately available. 

"It's OK if we don't agree on every detail," Weeks said. "But what we should all agree on is that people with disabilities shouldn't be left out of the system."

St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud, the opposition NDP social services critic, agreed with Weeks, noting the legislative process will take years to complete.

Renaud is disappointed the government hasn't moved on the report's recommendations.

"The fact that they've hidden the report is very clear that this is in no way a priority," she said.