Contents

Access 
The ACA Turns Five Today! 
US Access Board Hearings on AI 
Reminder US Access Board July 24 Meeting 
Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines 
Canada Disability Benefit 
BC Disability Advocates Call New Federal Benefit Regulations A Major Disappointment 
Housing 
Monitoring the Right to Housing for People with Disabilities 
Newsletters 
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition 
EASPD Newsletter 
Seniors for Social Action 
Spotlight on Sight Fighting Blindness Canada E-Newsletter 
Opportunities 
ESDC is interested in knowing about your events related to the 2030 SDG Agenda 

Access

The ACA Turns Five Today!

Today [Thursday, July 11, 2024] is a special day because it is the 5th anniversary of the coming into force of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), and I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the ACA and thank you for your contribution to its development five years ago.

From the moment the Government started down the path of developing accessibility legislation, the disability community was at the table and the legislation was shaped by the advice received from organizations and individuals alike.

The goal was clear - to facilitate the removal of barriers to accessibility, many of which had existed for decades - and create a barrier-free Canada where everyone, regardless of their identity or ability can participate fully in society.

And we have made a lot of progress in implementing the ACA since then – all with the input of the disability community, in line with the principle of “nothing without us”.

Critical planning and reporting regulations are in place, key appointments such as the Accessibility Commissioner and the Chief Accessibility Officer have been completed, and Accessibility Standards Canada has been established. And we have started down the road of measuring the removal of barriers over time with the publication of the Federal Data and Measurement Strategy and the creation of the Accessibility Statistics Hub. 

The ACA has also created a certain momentum for advancing accessibility in that eight provinces now have accessibility legislation in place.

That said, we would not be where we are today without your consistent advocacy for change and your own diverse efforts to remove barriers to accessibility. We also recognize the need for continued collective effort in realizing a barrier-free Canada and have started developing a national vision for the path to 2040. We look forward to engaging you on this important initiative later this year.

Again, it’s an honour and a privilege to work alongside you in realizing a barrier-free Canada, and I thank you once again for your contribution to the progress we’ve made so far.

Yours sincerely,
Rupa Bhawal-Montmorency
Director General
Accessible Canada Directorate
Employment and Social Development Canada

US Access Board Hearings on AI

Click on the following link to access the information: U.S. Access Board Holds Hearings on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Disability Community and AI Practitioners (access-board.gov)

Reminder US Access Board July 24 Meeting

Click on the following link to access the information online: U.S. Access Board Meeting on July 24 (access-board.gov)

Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines

Click on the following link to access the information: GSA Adopts Access Board’s Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines into Enforceable Standards (access-board.gov)

Canada Disability Benefit

BC Disability Advocates Call New Federal Benefit Regulations A Major Disappointment

Click on the following link to access the information online: https://globalnews.ca/news/10623524/bc-disability-advocates-benefit-regulations-disappointment/

Housing

Monitoring the Right to Housing for People with Disabilities

In 2019, Parliament passed the National Housing Strategy Act. The Act recognizes housing as a human right, and commits organizations and governments to reform housing laws, policies and programs from a human rights perspective; and to involve communities in meaningful ways.

The Act calls for the progressive realization of the right to housing. This means Canada must set specific timelines and goals in its housing strategy that make tangible progress towards the right to housing.

It also means Canada must prioritize the most vulnerable groups and those in greatest need of housing while it works towards housing as a human right for all. The Federal Government has an advocate embedded in the CHRC to monitor housing and must produce a report every year to cabinet.

Click on the following link to access the information online: https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/en/resources/monitoring-the-right-housing-people-disabilities

Newsletters

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Click on the following link to access the information online: Canadian woman was pressured to "choose" euthanasia (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Montreal woman with Spina Bifida pressured to ask for euthanasia (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Canadian doctor admits to killing hundreds (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Canada had approximately 15,280 MAiD deaths in 2023. (mailchi.mp)

EASPD Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information: EASPD Newsletter

Seniors for Social Action

Click on the following link to access the information online: PRESS STATEMENT ON NURSING HOME CLOSURES IN TORONTO (mailchi.mp)

Spotlight on Sight Fighting Blindness Canada E-Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online: Sharing the latest vision research news, event updates, resources, and more. (mailchi.mp)

Opportunities

ESDC is interested in knowing about your events related to the 2030 SDG Agenda

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is interested in knowing about your virtual or in-person events related to the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs that have a regional or national scope.

Whether you would like a Government official to participate in your events or simply make the SDG Unit aware of your upcoming events, we encourage you to share the information with us.

The survey of upcoming events is now open.

Why should you share your event information with us?

• Benefit from the SDG Unit’s vast stakeholder network to increase awareness and promote your event;
• Inform ESDC officials and create awareness on non-government perspectives related to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs; and
• Have the opportunity for a Government official to participate or speak at your event and provide a unique perspective on the 2030 Agenda.

How to submit an event for participation or awareness?

You can provide your event information by completing the ESDC SDG Unit Survey for Upcoming Events Form. You may fill out one (1) form per event.

Given the high volume of forms expected, you may be contacted if there is interest from Government officials to participate or attend your event.

We are committed to providing an inclusive process. If you have little or no Internet access, experience barriers submitting your information, please contact Programme2030-2030Agenda@canada.gc.ca or call 1-873-455-6089.

Any questions about this request can be sent at: Programme2030-2030Agenda@canada.gc.ca

Thank you for your continued work in acceleration progress on the SDGs,
The Sustainable Development Goals Unit
Employment and Social Development Canada
Government of Canada
Programme2030-2030Agenda@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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