Well behind some other Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan has introduced legislation to enact accessibility standards and regulations. The move comes more than seven years after a provincially appointed panel made the recommendation and more than 10 years after the government first promised a strategy to help remove barriers that people with mobility, hearing, sight and cognitive impairments may face.

Much like the legislation adopted in other jurisdictions decades ago, Bill 103, the Accessible Saskatchewan Act, proposes a phased approach to accessibility planning in the public and private sectors. To begin, the yet-to-be-developed standards in six categories — the built environment; information and communications; employment; transportation; service animals; procurement and service delivery — would apply to government facilities, services and operations. Once the Act is adopted, regulations will be developed to stipulate other organizations that will be required to comply and a schedule for them to do so.

Standards are to be developed with the input of a provincial Accessibility Advisory Committee, of which at least 50 per cent of membership must be people with disabilities or representatives of groups that work with people with disabilities. As well, the legislation proposes a provincial Accessibility Office to lead public education efforts, and mandated annual progress reports.

“As we proceed on this journey, we remain committed to the principle of ‘Nothing about us, without us’ and will continue to engage with persons with disabilities on this important work,” says Saskatchewan’s Social Services Minister, Gene Makowsky. “We are working to create a Saskatchewan where persons with disabilities can fully participate because a strong province is one where everyone is included.”