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EDMONTON — A private member’s bill aimed at establishing accessibility legislation in Alberta is back before the legislature, as advocates urge MLAs to support the measure.
St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud introduced Bill 206, the Accessible Alberta Act, last week. The bill is set to be debated again Monday.
Alberta remains one of two provinces without accessibility legislation, a gap disability organizations say has persisted for years despite repeated calls for action.
Friends of Medicare is calling on all members of the legislative assembly to support the bill.
“Accessibility legislation in Alberta is long overdue,” said executive director Chris Gallaway. “This private member’s bill has widespread support, because it is about ensuring basic rights and removing barriers that shouldn’t exist in the first place.”
Barrier-Free Alberta, a grassroots advocacy group, has been pushing for legislation to create provincewide accessibility standards. Friends of Medicare says it supports those efforts.
Gallaway said the issue should not be partisan.
“Every single member of the legislature, regardless of their political party, should see this as an opportunity to do the right thing and ensure basic, provincewide standards for all Albertans,” he said.
Advocates say Albertans can still contact their MLA to express support for the bill as it moves through the legislative process.
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