June 25, 2019
For Immediate Release: The Accessible Canada Act has become federal law.
Bill C-81 has passed both the House of Commons and the Senate, and received royal assent, which means it is now law across Canada. The bill seeks to ‘identify, prevent, and remove barriers for people with disabilities’ by addressing priorities like employment, the built environment, communications, and program design and delivery.
‘March of Dimes Canada has long advocated for national accessibility legislation,’ says President and CEO Leonard Baker. ‘Since the bill was tabled in June 2018, we have worked closely with the federal government and other organizations representing persons with disabilities to make sure that the legislation is as effective as possible.’
This new legislation obligates areas regulated by the federal government to prioritize accessibility and create legally binding regulations within two years. These include accessibility plans, progress reports, and feedback processes.
‘This is a welcome step towards ensuring that the 22% of Canadians living with disabilities enjoy barrier free to access to federal services and opportunities,’ Baker continues. ‘We’re pleased that the bill was passed with amendments recommended by March of Dimes Canada and many other disability advocates. The bill is stronger with these amendments, and a more inclusive, accessible Canada will benefit us all.’
‘We congratulate The Government of Canada, and particularly acknowledge Minister Carla Qualtrough for her leadership on this important legislation,’ Baker added.
March of Dimes Canada is a nationally registered charitable organization providing support services to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers across Canada. Our goal is to enhance the independence and community participation of people with disabilities every day through a wide range of programs and services
across Canada. For more information, please visit www.marchofdimes.ca or call 1-800-263-3463.
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For more information, please contact:
Tina Siegel
Public Relations and Media Coordinator
March of Dimes Canada
416.425.3463 ext. 7258
