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ARTICLE · 23 JUNE 2021

What Employers Should Know About BC's New Accessibility Legislation

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The B.C. Government is reviewing new accessibility legislation that will establish standards aimed at identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Alizeh Virani
Alizeh Virani
Negina Khalil
Negina Khalil
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The B.C. Government is reviewing new accessibility legislation that will establish standards aimed at identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion. If passed, standards will be developed in a range of areas, such as employment, the delivery of services, the built environment, information and communication, and transportation.

There are more than 926,100 British Columbians over the age of 15 with some form of disability, which represents 24.7% of the population. As the population ages, the number of people with disabilities and the severity of their disabilities are likely to increase.

Employers in B.C. should know that the Government intends for the accessibility legislation to be distinct from existing legislation and programs that support persons with disabilities. The new legislation would not directly affect programs that fall under other pieces of legislation (e.g., Worker's Compensation Benefits)and is meant to complement

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