Statement by Chair and CEO Scott Streiner on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3, 2018 – Gatineau, QC – Canadian Transportation Agency

"This year, the theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is, Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.

Inclusiveness and equality for persons with disabilities require accessible transportation services. Advancing and protecting accessible transportation is one of the Canadian Transportation Agency's (CTA) three core mandates.

Our vision is nothing less than to make Canada’s national transportation system the most accessible in the world.

The CTA is taking practical steps to translate that vision into reality:

• We are preparing for the possible enactment of Bill C-81 by putting the pieces in place for enhanced outreach, education, and compliance monitoring activities, while working with other implementation bodies to ensure consistent approaches and a smooth experience for any person who wants to bring forward an accessibility-related complaint.
• We are making significant progress on new accessible transportation regulations that will modernize and integrate the provisions of two existing regulations and six voluntary codes into a single, robust, binding instrument.
• We are spearheading efforts, together with other federal organizations, to increase the emphasis placed on accessible air transportation by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
• We are supporting multi-stakeholder discussions on ways of addressing growing challenges around the storage and transportation of mobility devices on aircraft.

Accessible transportation is a human right. It allows persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. The CTA is committed to ensuring that this right is realized in practice through clarity of purpose and concrete action."

Contacts

Canadian Transportation Agency
Media Relations
media@otc-cta.gc.ca
Tel.: 819-934-3448
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