The Accessible British Columbia Act is now law, and the first step is to form the Provincial Accessibility Committee to advise the minister of social development and poverty reduction on matters related to accessibility and support the development of accessibility standards.
“In many ways, the passing of the act today marks an important step in our work to build an inclusive province that works for all of us,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “People with disabilities and people who face barriers have been involved in this process from the beginning, and it’s with their continued input that we'll ensure we build a barrier-free B.C.”
People interested in serving on the 11-member Provincial Accessibility Committee have until Thursday, July 29, 2021, to apply. As outlined in the act, the committee will represent the diversity of British Columbians and at least half of the membership will include people with disabilities or people or organizations that support people with disabilities, with a minimum of one Indigenous representative.
“For too long, the barriers faced by people with disabilities have been overlooked,” said Dan Coulter, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “We know people experience barriers differently, and our approach will reflect that. I’m looking forward to working with advocates, communities and businesses across the province in the months and years ahead to ensure all voices are heard.”
For more information, please visit; https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021SDPR0046-001182