Private Member's Statement
May 14, 2008: Access to the Alberta Legislature
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Alberta Legislature is the heart of Alberta’s democracy. It has a long, proud history, one that citizens should be and are very proud of. Good laws have been made here along with a few bad ones but, thankfully, mostly good thanks to the work of dedicated MLAs and committed citizens. Democracy’s greatest strength is the people and the people’s ability to discuss the issues, form consensus, and elect representatives to carry out their will. Accordingly, the Legislature plays host not only to MLAs but all citizens. Through the services offered by this House, the people have direct access to democracy. That being said, Mr. Speaker, not all Albertans have ideal access to their Legislature. Albertans with disabilities are still at a disadvantage when it comes to using this fine building. Great strides have been made, to be sure, but consider that Albertans with limited mobility must use the side entrance to gain access. Surely all Albertans should be able to enter the Legislature with dignity and pride through the front door. Or consider the needs of Albertans with hearing impairments. I believe that CART systems should be installed in the galleries and public boardrooms so that those Albertans will be able to follow debates and participate, as citizens are intended to, on public committees. I hope we’ll see these important interpretive tools in use here in the House sooner rather than later.
I realize that no one in this House has deliberately tried to limit access to Albertans with disabilities. Indeed, I congratulate and thank all members and Legislature staff, past and present, who have worked hard to make the Legislature more accessible. But I believe that a few small improvements could make a big difference to a lot of Albertans. This government plans to renovate the Legislature Grounds. May I suggest that front door accessibility for Albertans with disabilities would be an excellent way to show this government’s commitment to respect their dignity. We have marvellous engineers in this province, and I’m sure we can come up with a way to incorporate a ramp into the Legislature’s design, preserving the building’s aesthetic heritage while recognizing modern needs. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Other Sections
Youth Voice
@ The Leg
Photo Blog