N.B. promises to remove accessibility barriers through five-year plan

The New Brunswick government is promising to make the province more accessible in the coming years.

For the first time, New Brunswick has launched a five-year accessibility plan for the province, meant to improve resources and break down existing barriers for people with a disability.

According to Statistics Canada, about a third of New Brunswickers live with a disability, the second highest in the country.

That data does not capture those living in long-term care facilities, according to Ability NB’s executive director and Accessibility Advisory board chair Haley Flaro.

“Accessibility is a right, not a privilege,” she said.

Post-secondary education, training and labour minister Jean-Claude D’Amours said there will be checks and balances through the Accessibility Act to ensure actions are made.

The plan focuses on three goals: engagement to identify where there are barriers, removing the stigma and establish regulations.

“People are watching and waiting for it...what we heard a lot from people that guidelines weren’t enough, they wanted to see regulatory standards,” Flaro said.

D’Amours said an accessibility office had been established to lead the implementation of the plan.

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