[December 5, 2023]
The Manitoba government has tabled the second independent review of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, announced today.
“The Manitoba government is committed to building a province that is accessible to everyone,” said Fontaine. “Independent reviews, such as the five-year review of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, help us to find ways we can make real, impactful change to eliminate barriers and make life more accessible for all Manitobans.”
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act became law 10 years ago today to provide a clear and proactive process to identify, prevent and remove barriers for people living with disabilities. Under the act, the minister must appoint a person to review the effectiveness of the legislation every five years.
In February 2023, the Manitoba government appointed Sarah Lugtig Riezebos to conduct the second review. The consultation process included public forums, focus groups, document reviews and an online public survey. Federal and provincial governments, businesses, community organizations and individuals with lived experiences were consulted.
The final report outlines 27 recommendations and 27 sub-recommendations focused on improving the implementation of the act. The report recommends improvements to areas such as Manitoba government leadership and its accountability framework, as well as a collaboration process to help the act reach its full potential in making life better for Manitobans.
The Manitoba government is carefully reviewing the report and recommendations to determine priorities and develop a path forward in the continued goal of making a barrier-free province for all.
“On behalf of the Manitoba government, I would like to thank the independent reviewer Sarah Lugtig Riezebos for her care and consideration on this report, as well as the many Manitobans who took the time to provide feedback on the act,” said Fontaine. “Manitoba was one of the first provinces to adopt accessibility legislation, and I look forward to taking action on the opportunities outlined in this report to make Manitoba a leader in accessibility once again.”
To read the full report, visit AccessibilityMB.ca.
– 30 –