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 transportation emergency response procedures in Ontario and Manitoba.
Accessible Transportation Emergency Response Procedures 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 and specialized transit companies to have emergency response procedures. These procedures should describe how a company is prepared to respond to emergencies in ways that promote the safety of passengers with disabilities. Moreover, companies in both provinces must document these procedures.
Differences
In Ontario, emergency response procedures must be:
- Established
- Implemented
- Maintained
Moreover, companies must make these documented procedures available to the public, including in accessible formats, upon request.
On the other hand, Manitoba’s mandate does not require companies to implement or maintain their emergency procedures. However, companies must post their established, documented procedures in all conventional transit and specialized transit vehicles. In addition, companies must also post contact information that passengers can use to learn more about the procedures. Nonetheless, the standards do not require companies to make these posted procedures or the contact information available in accessible formats. In contrast, Ontario’s standards do not require companies to post procedures, or contact information, in vehicles.