Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer is calling for more urgent action to make transportation accessible to the more than 27 per cent of Canadians who live with disabilities, warning that too many people still face daily barriers just getting to work or participating in community life.
Stephanie Cadieux released her third annual report on Feb. 19 under the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), with a focus on accessible transportation and four recommendations to accelerate progress in that area. The report also reviews outcomes in the ACA’s other six priority areas.
“Being able to get where you need and want to go is key to quality of life, but for too many people with disabilities, reliable, accessible transportation remains unavailable, resulting in continuous anxiety and uncertainty in their day-to-day lives,” Cadieux said.
Why this matters for employers
Transportation is one of seven priority areas under the ACA, which came into force in 2019 and established the Chief Accessibility Officer as an independent adviser to the federal minister responsible for accessibility.
For HR professionals and business leaders, the report has direct implications. When workers with disabilities cannot reliably reach their workplaces, employers face recruitment, retention, and inclusion challenges that undercut disability employment commitments.
“If people can’t even get out the door, if just getting to work safely requires extreme effort and planning around factors and barriers beyond their control, then we are missing the mark,” Cadieux said.
Cross-jurisdictional collaboration required
Cadieux said reaching Canada’s 2040 target of a barrier-free country will require coordinated effort across governments, sectors, and disciplines. She identified transportation as the most complex area, given that it crosses multiple jurisdictions.
“A collective effort is necessary to reach our 2040 target of a barrier-free Canada,” she said. “We have to work collaboratively across jurisdictions, sectors, and areas of expertise to identify, remove, and prevent obstacles in all priority areas.”
The report was developed using publicly available research, meetings with federally and non-federally regulated organizations, reviews of accessibility plans and progress reports, informal interviews, and qualitative analysis.
Progress noted, but pace criticized
Cadieux acknowledged that progress has been made since the ACA took effect, but said the pace is insufficient.
“There has been considerable progress since the ACA came into effect, but we can and must do better and move faster,” she said. “Accessibility must be a foundational and non-negotiable cultural value if we are going to succeed in making our communities, our industries, and our public institutions inclusive, resilient, innovative, and prosperous.”
The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer serves as a resource on accessibility issues and supports dialogue between the federal government, disability stakeholders, and national and international organizations.
