Governments will have 2 years to come up with accessibility plans if act passes CBC News, Posted: Nov 16, 2022

The Saskatchewan government introduced The Accessibility Saskatchewan Act, which aims to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities, Tuesday.

The act stems from a 2015 recommendation in the Saskatchewan disability strategy.

People with disabilities currently have to file human rights complaints when they face a barrier. Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky said he hopes this proposed act will create a smoother process for eliminating impediments.

“There is existing legislation that deals with the building codes of human rights, however there are gaps, ” Makowsky told reporters today.

Sask. Introduces Act to Make Province More Accessible for people With Disabilities full article

Animal was removed because of his ‘obesity,’ National Service Dogs says Talia Ricci, CBC News
Posted: Nov 17, 2022

Sasha Singh says the day her family got a service dog for her daughter was life changing.

“I can tell you for a fact that the best therapist comes with fur and four legs,” she said.

Singh says Sammy, a Bernese mountain dog, was a big help to Katiana, 14, who is non-verbal and has autism.

“It gave us a normal life; we were able to do things as a family.”

But in March, Singh says Katiana’s life was turned upside down when National Service Dogs (NSD) took Sammy away without any notice after four years with the family.

Family Speaks Out After Service Dog Taken Away from Non-Verbal Child with Autism full article

BY YVETTE D’ENTREMONT
NOVEMBER 2, 2022

Governments, communities, and individuals must do better when taking into account the experiences and needs of people with disabilities during emergencies.

That was the messaging shared Tuesday during a panel discussion hosted by Dalhousie University’s MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance.

Titled Come Hell or High Water: Improving Response for People with Disabilities, the online discussion focussed on the unique considerations of people with disabilities in the face of emergencies and evacuations.

“There are many access and functional needs to consider, particularly relating to communication methods, transportation, sheltering, access to assistive devices, emergency social services, and transition back to the community,” stated a publicity notice for the event. “Post-disaster audits from disasters highlight the need to improve emergency services for persons with disabilities.”

Needs of People With Disabilities Must Be Considered in Emergencies, Advocates Say full article

Qualtrough says she hears regularly of people with disabilities seeking death due to lack of supports Catherine Cullen, Alexandra Zabjek, CBC News
Posted: Oct 22, 2022

Canada’s minister of disability inclusion says she’s offended by a Quebec doctor’s suggestion that infants less than a year old should have access to medically assisted deaths if they are unlikely to survive and are dealing with severe health issues.

“I find that completely shocking and unacceptable. I would never support going down that road,” Carla Qualtrough said in an interview with CBC Radio’s The House.

The idea was raised earlier this month at a parliamentary committee hearing reviewing the federal law that governs medical assistance in dying.

Federal Minister Says She’s ‘shocked’ by Suggestion of Assisted Deaths for Some Babies full article

NEWS PROVIDED BY Employment and Social Development Canada
Oct 07, 2022

GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ – Persons with disabilities face physical, financial, attitudinal and other barriers to participating in society. Many of these barriers are systemic and long-standing. The Government of Canada is working with the disability community to remove those barriers, and to consciously create a more inclusive country. The work required to achieve this is extensive, and it requires meaningful and sustained action.

Government of Canada Releases National Disability Inclusion Action Plan full article