The Transportation Standards under the AODA and the Transportation Standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require organizations to make transportation accessible to people with disabilities. Moreover, both standards require many of the same processes and practices to ensure accessibility. However, there are many important differences between the standards. The third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should coordinate with other provinces and the federal government to ensure that accessibility laws are consistent across Canada. Therefore, requirements in the AODA may one day change to align with mandates under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. In this article, we will explore requirements for accessible transit boarding and deboarding in Ontario and Manitoba.
Accessible Transit Boarding and Deboarding in Ontario and Manitoba
The AODA’s Transportation Standards and the Accessible Transportation Standard of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require conventional transit drivers to:
- Deploy accessibility equipment for boarding and deboarding, upon request
- Ensure that passengers have enough time to:
- Board
- Secure themselves in their seats
- Deboard
In addition, drivers should assist passengers with these tasks, upon request.
Moreover, if a transit stop is not accessible, a passenger with a disability must be able to board or deboard at the nearest safe, accessible location along the vehicle’s route. Drivers must consult with the passenger to determine the nearest safe, accessible location. Furthermore, drivers must report an inaccessible stop to the authority responsible for the stop.
Differences
Ontario’s Transportation Standards name the types of accessibility equipment that drivers are required to deploy:
- Lifts
- Ramps
- Portable bridge plates
In contrast, Manitoba’s Accessible Transportation Standard does not name any specific pieces of equipment that drivers are required to deploy.
On the other hand, Ontario conventional transit companies must make information available in accessible formats, upon request, about drivers’ responsibilities to:
- Deploy accessibility equipment
- Permit passengers to travel with assistive devices, and store those devices
In contrast, conventional transit companies in Manitoba do not need to make this information available. However, they must create, implement, and publish policies for allowing passengers with disabilities to board and deboard before passengers without disabilities.
In addition, Manitoba’s Accessible Transportation Standard names snow as a possible accessibility barrier at a transit stop. On the contrary, Ontario’s Transportation Standards do not give examples of accessibility barriers at transit stops.
Moreover, when a Manitoba driver reports an inaccessible stop, the authority responsible for the stop must alert the public:
- To the location of the accessible stop
- About the nearest stop that remains accessible
Finally, Manitoba authorities responsible for stops that are inaccessible must take steps to remove the barriers at those stops. On the other hand, Ontario authorities responsible for stops are not required to take any action to make them accessible.