The Accessibility for Manitobans Amendment Act and The Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Amendment Act (Access Awareness Week)
Chamber
manitoba
Stage
Introduced
This Manitoba bill updates accessibility planning rules and officially declares the last week of May as Access Awareness Week.
Key Changes
- Accessibility standards must be reviewed within 5 years of being made, then again within 5 years, and at least every 10 years after that
- The majority of Accessibility Advisory Council members must be persons disabled by barriers, and membership must reflect Manitoba's diversity including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples
- Money collected from administrative penalties must be used for public education or awareness about accessibility
- Public sector bodies must prepare or update accessibility plans every four years starting in 2032, with a transitional schedule for 2025–2031
- Accessibility plans must now include a description of consultations with people who face barriers, and must be submitted to the provincial director within 30 days
- The last week of May each year is officially proclaimed as Access Awareness Week in Manitoba
Gotchas
- The shift from two-year to four-year accessibility planning cycles reduces how often public sector bodies must formally update their plans, which could slow progress on barrier removal
- Existing Accessibility Advisory Council members continue in their roles until replaced, meaning the new diversity requirements will only take effect as seats turn over
- The transitional planning schedule differs between large public bodies (government, cities, health authorities, schools) and small municipalities, giving smaller bodies slightly different timelines
- The comprehensive review of the Act's effectiveness is now required by end of 2028 and every 10 years after, rather than on a shorter cycle, which reduces the frequency of formal oversight
- Access Awareness Week is a symbolic proclamation and does not carry legal obligations or funding commitments
Who's Affected
- Persons with disabilities or those who face accessibility barriers
- Manitoba provincial government departments
- Cities, health authorities, and educational institutions
- Small municipalities
- Members of the Accessibility Advisory Council
- Organizations representing people with disabilities
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The shift from two-year to four-year accessibility planning cycles reduces how often public sector bodies must formally update their plans, which could slow progress on barrier removal
- Existing Accessibility Advisory Council members continue in their roles until replaced, meaning the new diversity requirements will only take effect as seats turn over
- The transitional planning schedule differs between large public bodies (government, cities, health authorities, schools) and small municipalities, giving smaller bodies slightly different timelines
- The comprehensive review of the Act's effectiveness is now required by end of 2028 and every 10 years after, rather than on a shorter cycle, which reduces the frequency of formal oversight
- Access Awareness Week is a symbolic proclamation and does not carry legal obligations or funding commitments
Summary
This bill makes several changes to Manitoba's Accessibility for Manitobans Act and adds a new commemorative week to provincial law. It updates how often accessibility standards must be reviewed, changes how public sector bodies must create accessibility plans, and adjusts the makeup of the Accessibility Advisory Council to better represent people with disabilities and Indigenous peoples. The bill also changes the schedule for accessibility planning: instead of every two years, public sector bodies will prepare or update plans every four years starting in 2032, with a transitional schedule between now and then. Plans must now include a description of consultations held with people who face barriers, and must be submitted to a provincial director within 30 days of being prepared. Finally, the bill officially designates the week starting on the last Sunday in May each year as 'Access Awareness Week' in Manitoba. This is meant to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities and celebrate progress in areas like employment, transportation, and communication.
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Vibes
0 responses