News and Announcements

Accessibility Resources Available from Canadian Transportation Agency

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), the federal regulatory body overseeing transportation, provides accessibility resources to help people with disabilities. These resources include, but not limited to , information on filing accessibility complaints, notices related to the agency and transportation, and guides on travelling. You can find these resources at Accessibility on their web site.

Letter of Concern Re Saskatchewan Human Right commission

On May 5, 2020, Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK) sent a letter of of concern about the SaskatchewanHuman Right Commission. and its failure to uphold its obligations to protect the rights of people with disabilities. In this letter, BFSK is calling on the Saskatchewan government to conduct a complete and independent review of SHRC's policies, procedures, and practices.

Read this letter of concern to learn more.

Notice of Town Hall Meeting

Saskatchewan Accessibility Act/Barrier-Free Saskatchewan
South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre
2220 Albert St., Regina SK
December 5, 2019
11:30 AM–2:30 PM

Please join us to learn how you can assist in the Creation of a fully accessible Saskatchewan.

For more information, visit your invitation to join us at this town hall meeting.

Saskatchewan Government Announces Consultations on an Accessibility Act in the Throne Speech

In the throne speech read to the legislature on October 23, 2019, the Saskatchewan government announced it will hold consultations for an accessibility act. Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK) is looking forward to these consultations and is planning to participate in partnership with other disability groups in the province.

To view the video or read the transcript for this throne speech, visit Speech from the Throne.

Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 in Saskatoon

Barrier Free Saskatchewan is holding a town hall meeting at 6:00 PM on tuesday, September 10 in the main theatre of the Francis Morrison Library (across 23rd Street from city hall). This meeting is open to the public.

Come to the meeting to learn about Barrier Free Saskatchewan and its mission.

Health and Safety — Emergency Help Line

On March 26, 2019, our presidendt sent a letter to the Executive Director of SaskAbility. His letter expressed the concern of Barrier Free Saskatchewan with the health and safety risks faced by people when their motorized wheelchairs, motorized beds, home elevators/lifts, and other assistive equipment become inoperable outside regular business hours.

To learn more, read the letter.

Letter to Inspire Empowerment Through a Saskatchewan Accessibility Act

On March 25, 2019, our presidendt sent a letter to all Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for the province of Saskatchewan. In this letter, he encouraged them to make it a priority as MLAs and for their respective parties to enact an Saskatchewan accessibility act based on the 14 principles developed by Barrier Free Saskatchewan.

To learn more, read the president's letter.

Pot Is A Process (Prairie Dog)

"It was probably unrealistic to expect a smooth "rollout" when recreational cannabis became legal on Oct. 17. For decades, it had been demonized as an illegal drug on par with heroin, crack cocaine and crystal meth. So in moving to legalize, the federal Liberal government had to tread carefully — both at home and internationally, where Canada is partner to several drug treaties."

For more details, read the article Pot Is A Process by Prairie Dog.

Sask. patients see medical cannabis supply shortage (CBC)

"Advocates say there has been an access issue since recreational pot was legalized."

See the article by CBC for more details.

Welcome To Cannabis Country (Prairie Dog)

"Cannabis was outlawed in the 1920s as part of a broader prohibition against drugs such as opium and cocaine. To drive home the alleged “threat” weed posed to society, major “reefer madness” style propaganda campaigns were mounted.

They were over the top, packed with misinformation and just dumb as hell. And, well, they worked.

Canada is a different country today. We’re on the cusp of legalizing cannabis for recreational use. So we’re over pot panic, right?

Unfortunately evidence of that mindset remains."

To find more details, read the article Welcome To Cannabis Country by Prairie Dog.

Human rights board finds Nova Scotia discriminated against wheelchair users by failing to enforce regulations (The Globe and Mail)

"The Nova Scotia government discriminated against people in wheelchairs by failing to enforce a regulation requiring restaurants to have accessible bathrooms, a human rights board of inquiry has found."

See the article Human rights board finds Nova Scotia discriminated against wheelchair users by failing to enforce regulations by The Globe and Mail for more details.

Letter from the Federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

the President of Barrier Free Saskatchewan, Robin East, received a letter from Honorable Carla Qualtrough, the Federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, about Bill C81, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA). Read the letter to learn more.

Barrier Free Saskatchewan Becomes an Official Entity In Saskatchewan

In celebration of the New Year, Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK) is announcing that it has incorporated as a non-profit entity in the province of Saskatchewan. As a step twoard achieving this goal, BFSK elected its first board of directors on Monday, November 13, 2017. BFSK hopes to make significant progress toward an accessibility act for Saskatchewan in 2018.

BFSK Receives a Letter of Support from the Mayor of Saskatoon

On June 16, 2017, the mayor for the City of Saskatoon, Charlie Clark, sent a letter to Barrier Free Saskatchewan pledging his support for our efforts to get an inclusion and accessibility act enacted in the province of Saskatchewan. To Learn more, please read the letter from the mayor of Saskatoon.

Expecting a Barrier Free Saskatchewan

29 May 2017

Earlier this month members of Barrier Free Saskatchewan filed 520 complaints with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission against 40 restaurants due to their lack of basic access. Not able to enter through the front door, use the washrooms, or to maneuver through a facility to a table is an access barrier for those persons using a wheelchair.

To learn more about this action to remove barriers in restaurants for disabled people, Please visit our news release for May 29, 2017.