Considering that:
- 33% of Quebecers aged 15 and over report having difficulty performing certain daily activities due to a temporary or permanent functional limitation.
- In February 2019, a Léger survey commissioned by Formation AlterGo showed that only 15% of Quebecers had heard of universal accessibility in recent months.
- Universal accessibility is the condition that allows participation for all.
- Universal accessibility is defined as the character of a product, process, service, information or environment that, with equity and inclusiveness in mind, enables any person to perform activities independently and achieve equivalent results.
For municipalities that are
universally accessible
I recognize that in 2021, universal accessibility is essential, because we may not all have limitations, but we all have the same rights.
I recognize that we must all, together, choose to remove barriers.
I recognize that citizens with disabilities still face many barriers in our society that prevent them from fully exercising their rights, and that these barriers have been exacerbated by the health situation.
I recognize that municipalities are actors with significant power to improve the quality of life of citizens by taking into account universal accessibility in each of their initiatives.
I recognize that – in the context of municipal elections in November 2021 – each municipality must make a greater effort to ensure the participation of all by:
- Adopting a municipal universal accessibility policy (if not already in place);
- Appointing an elected official responsible for universal accessibility in each decision-making body of the municipality (city council and borough councils);
- Appointing a person responsible for universal accessibility within the municipal administration and ensuring the development of their skills by giving them the resources (human and financial) necessary to carry out their mandate.
- Developing a mechanism to involve and consult with people with disabilities in the city's consultative processes.
- Having the information necessary to support informed decision-making on universal accessibility: gathering needs, identifying barriers and producing data, keeping an up-to-date picture and identifying innovative and sustainable solutions.
