Why is Accessibility an Election Issue in CBRM?
Nearly 40% of our population (ages 15+) lives with some disability, including me (Source: About Disability in NS). We deserve equitable access to our communities and opportunities for civic engagement. Improving access for our senior population has been an election talking point since at least 2016, however actual progress towards this commitment is dismal at best.
CBRM’s Civic Centre/City Hall does not come close to meeting the Standards for the Built Environment, which came into effect last year for Public Sector Bodies (including Municipalities). CBRM's website fails Accessibility Standards. What message does this send to citizens with disabilities? Furthermore, when CBRM Council was presented with the Accessibility Plan (written by reachAbility), more Councillors spent took speaking time exclusively praising the disabled CEO about her passion and how inspiring it was than actually committing to any single suggested action (post-presentation commentary starts at 1h:13m). I have asked for updates on whether or not these "low-hanging fruit" mentioned in the meeting were actioned on in the year since. As a citizen, I come up on barrier after barrier when trying to get any sort of update on the Accessibility Plan. As a disabled person, I am very familiar with the patronizing and dismissive "you're so inspiring/ passionate" fluff from officials. Watch for yourself: October 24, 2023 Council Meeting, 3.1 Accessibility Plan. This meeting also mentioned the need to restrike the Accessibility Advisory Committee since it has a 2 year term that had ended. Nearly a full year later, the Accessibility Advisory Committee has still not been renewed.
Nova Scotia as a whole is in a time of significant change as we see the Accessibility Act (2017) come into effect with the roll-out of the Province's Accessibility Standards. The Human Rights Remedy also means significant change as people with disabilities who've been institutionalized gain the hard-fought right and freedom to live in community and more Small Options Homes are created in response. Disabled Citizens should not be forced to seek out a human rights remedy again because our governments can't be bothered to figure out how to meet their own responsibilities. The 2030 goal of an Accessible Nova Scotia is improbable because people in power have been passing off responsibility but that does not mean we stop trying. If CBRM citizens want the Accessibility Plan to be actioned, we need to vote in leadership who can and will prioritize accessibility in our communities.
If nothing else, I hope that through this election I can meet and connect with other citizens with disabilities and fellow accessibility advocates who want to hold our government accountable to its responsibilities.
What are the Standards and Timelines?
How Accessibility
I have the knowledge and background necessary to successfully lead and Chair the Accessibility Committee. I have a lifetime of lived experience with disability, over 15 years of employment experience in disability services, and some university-level education in Critical Disability Studies with additional course-work in intersectionality to help me better understand how experiences of disability vary based on other demographic factors like race, class, gender, and age. I have experience advocating to various levels of government for accessibility related changes, both as an individual and as a member of a disability advocacy group.
CBRM Council has failed to apply for Federal and Provincial funding opportunities time and time again. We can't use funding we don't apply for. As an engaged disabled citizen, it is embarrassing to read CBRM Councillors in the news complaining about the lack of funding available to meet their responsibilities as a municipality under the Accessibility Act while there is no evidence they took advantage of the available funding. It is downright deflating to read an email reply from a Council member sitting on the Accessibility Committee who clearly does not understand that he is in fact responsible for translating the Accessibility Plan into governance and integrating it into everything the municipality and Council does.
Unless we elect Council members who are interested in the political and governance aspects (the main part) of the job, we will continue to be led by Councillors who pass the responsibility and blame to anyone but themselves.
If elected, I would suggest Policy Amendments to to existing Municipal policies to add in accessibility guidelines where logical, such as within the Email and Agenda policies. I would suggest motions to empower staff to action items in the Accessibility Plan. I am embedded in accessibility work and can easily connect CBRM staff and Council members to free capacity building training in various accessibility topics. When approximately 40% of Nova Scotian's over the age of 15 are living with one or more disabilities, accessibility knowledge is an essential aspect of any government employee's training. There are Federally and Provincially funded supports we are snoozing on in terms of training and capacity building. Councillors who love to make excuses for their inaction will struggle to have those excuses unrefuted if I am given a seat at the table.
Missed Economic Opportunity - Accessible Tourism
For all the talk about how we need economic development, we are doing nothing to capitalize on Accessible Tourism. CBRM relies on the tourism and cruise industry for economic development. Large cruise ships offer some of the most accessible travel options for tourists with all types of disabilities. Any accessibility improvements CBRM makes for its citizens can have additional benefits for our tourism industry. We can invest in accessible infrastructure and activities and accurately advertise these to accessible cruise lines. Let's get these travellers off-ship and into our museums, local shops and restaurants.
In 2020, Dalhousie's MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance began accessible tourism research. They also research Emergency Management involving People with Disabilities.
This October, consider voting in a candidate who will shift the talk to action. Accessibility in CBRM cannot continue to be an election issue year after year with no meaningful progress.
Relevant Reading/ Links:
"Officials say funding a barrier to accessibility in the CBRM" - CBC October 30 2023
To this I ask: What funding, if any, was applied for? and has there been any advocacy from Council to include accessibility as a budget line item?
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