RAPLIQ’s information session on the complaints campaign about discrimination based on disability against the Montréal Transit Corporation
On December 8th, eleven people with disabilities filed discrimination complaints to the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ) against the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM). These people face major obstacles preventing them from using the metro or bus system. In addition, the service offered by paratransit is not even close to equal to those provided by the “regular” transit system (metro and bus). Accordingly, those who filed these complaints did so because their rights and freedoms have been, and continue to be, violated. RAPLIQ and the Centre de recherche-action sur les relations raciales (CRARR) are representing the complainants. This mass filing of human rights complaints is a first in the history of public transit accessibility in the province of Québec. And, since the initial complaints filed on December 8, more people have contacted us and additional complaints have been lodged at the CDPDJ.
Since many have expressed their interest in filing a complaint, we have decided to hold an information session on January 30th from 7 pm to 9:30 pm at the Lucie-Bruneau Rehabilitation Center. The goal of this session is to explain how you can join the campaign as well as to answer any questions you may have. We will give a brief overview of the history of public transit inaccessibility in Montréal, and we will virtually travel to other cities to observe that Montreal is far behind when it comes to public transit accessibility.
Montréal public transit inaccessibility does not violate only the rights of people with disabilities who cannot use stairs. For example, people with visual impairments are also faced with discrimination based on disability in the STM system. To this end, a representative of the Regroupement des aveugles et amblyopes du Montréal métropolitain (RAAMM) will be there to talk about the obstacles faced by people with visual impairments in relation to accessing the STM.
The Québec Charter of rights and freedoms clearly forbids discrimination based on disability. It is about time we use it!
Please RVSP, if possible, by email at info@rapliq.org or by phone at 514-656-1664
Laurence Parent, RAPLIQ vice-president
When: January 30, 2011 from 7 pm to 9 :30 pm
Where: Room 147, Lucie-Bruneau Rehabilitation Center
2295 Laurier East, Montréal
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I am not a handicapped person, but I have a suggestion.
Rather than wait many years for elevators in every metro, would it be an idea to install wheelchair stair lifts. There used to be one in Complex des Jardins. They cost a few thousand dollars each and I think would be suitable for most people. I believe most if not all of the stairs in the metro would be wide enough, even when other passengers are walking up or down at the same time.
If this were possible, it would give accsess to many more metro staions, much more quickly and at a fraction of the cost of elevators. As I’m sure you know, there are numerous websites for wheelchair staitr lifts.
sincerely
Carol Tremaine