Domestic travel in Canada isn't as accessible as we like to think

Globe and Mail

3 days ago

Max L. Brault is a disability advocate and author of The Race to the Starting Line: What You Need to Know About the Accessible Canada Act for Making a Barrier Free Society.
It's no secret that many Canadians these days are choosing not to cross the border into the United States, especially for vacations. It's a shame what's happened between our two countries, but there is a massive opportunity for greater tourism within Canada. For many Canadian families, though, one key factor plays a role in where they decide to go: if they can safely and comfortably travel to their destination at all.
The 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, the most recent such data from Statistics Canada, tells us that '27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities.' That was roughly 8 million people. And the numbers are only growing. Mental-health related disabilities are on the rise and as the population ages many more disabilities become more prevalent. That means perhaps as many as one third of Canadians will make travel plans based on what is accessible for someone in their family. And so much of Canada is not designed with accessibility in mind.
There are many kinds of barriers that people with disabilities experience. I can't personally speak to all of them, but as someone who relies on a powered wheelchair, I can tell you I have to plan everywhere I go very carefully.
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Over the years, airline travel has improved for the disability community, but too often the accommodations fail. I travel a lot for my work, and encounter a problem roughly half the time, whether it's a lost or damaged wheelchair or airline staff not properly trained or equipped to receive me. A powered wheelchair cannot be replaced quickly or easily – they are customized. My chair is my legs and as such should benefit from the same human rights I have.
Once I arrive at my destination, I find that some hotels do not understand what accessibility fully requires. For example, bedframes that go right down to the floor may look nice, but they're a problem because a lift – to transfer a person from the wheelchair to the bed – can't get under it to position correctly.
Using Airbnb is out of the question. So few homes – be they houses, condos, or apartments – are built accessibly. We know Canada desperately needs new housing. I'd like to see every new home built accessibly, but at least a third should be. It would mean one day folks like me would have more options for where to stay.
Then there's getting around. Ask anyone who uses accessible transit and they'll tell you how slow and unreliable it often is. That's a big problem when you have a full itinerary.
And that's just the basic built environment of travelling. I don't know of any sign language interpreters provided for tours. Anywhere there are text panels, there should be descriptive audio available. And many places don't accommodate service animals. So much of the wonder and natural beauty of our country is inaccessible to many Canadians.
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Travelling always comes with risks, and everyone suffers when there are problems or delays. But the impacts are far greater for people with disabilities. The needs of disabled bodies and minds have to come first: That's equitable.
There's some low-hanging fruit. If I take a bus or train, or call a wheelchair-accessible cab, I can stay in my chair. Even some boat tours can accommodate. Air travel remains the outlier. That's starting to change – new solutions are in development that could finally make in-cabin wheelchair access a reality. The biggest hurdle isn't technology but regulations, and we could change those sooner than later. In fact, the biggest and most necessary changes are systemic.
We need new standards across the travel and tourism industries. If mobility devices are treated as extensions of a person, they'll be treated with far more dignity. And accommodation requests need to be tracked between regions and companies.
Here's the good news: We now have the Accessible Canada Act, which was enacted in 2019, and which lays the groundwork for a barrier-free Canada by 2040. It clearly states that everyone must be treated with dignity, and it has the power to reshape our country. New standards take time, and willpower from both the public and private sectors.
The Act is a powerful tool that we can use to advocate for our rights today. Everyone should be able to safely enjoy exploring our country, this summer and beyond.
The new Carney government is determined to fast-track nation building exercises. For the many Canadians with a disability who want to travel across this country, increasing accessibility could have a greater impact than anything else we do. We have a once in a generation opportunity to build a better Canada. That Canada has to work for everyone.