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Buildings Accessibility Act Questionnaire

Section A - 1981 Exemption Clause

 

The Buildings Accessibility Act does not currently apply to buildings constructed before the Act came into effect in 1981. Such buildings are exempt from the Act. With that in mind, please indicate whether you completely agree with each of the following recommendations from the Buildings Accessibility Advisory Board (BAAB) related to the 1981 exemption clause.

THE BAAB RECOMMENDS THAT: 

  • Buildings constructed before 1981 that are open to the public be required to be made accessible for persons with disabilities.
    • Buildings currently exempt from the Act be required to have accessible parking, walkways, entrances and washrooms as well as ensure access to main common areas within five years of a revised Act coming into effect.
    • Buildings currently exempt from the Act be required to have an additional 30 per cent of the building’s square footage in compliance with the Act, within 10 years of a revised Act coming into effect.
    • Buildings currently exempt from the Act be required to be 100 per cent in compliance with the Act, within 20 years of a revised Act coming into effect.
    • A tax incentive be established to help with the cost of making accessibility renovations to buildings that are currently exempt from the Act. The incentive would line up with the timelines referenced above.  
  • Exempt buildings undergoing renovations costing more than 50 per cent of the building’s replacement cost must comply completely with the Act at the time of renovation. 
  • The cost of renovating exempt buildings be thoroughly scrutinized, and the building’s replacement cost be determined by a commercial building appraiser, to ensure property owners do not unnecessarily extend the exemption period. 
  • There be enhanced oversight to ensure property owners do not change building occupancy, use, classification or ownership details for the sole purpose of obtaining an exemption from the Act.
  • Exemption requests be assessed through a tribunal process where specialist individuals convened by government make the decision, as opposed to the current process where exemptions are determined as part of the building plan review process.

Please note the following when making your decision:

  • For the purpose of this question, 'completely agree' means that you agree with the recommendation in full and would not make any changes.

  • If you only agree with the recommendation in part and would make changes, or if you disagree with the recommendation entirely and would change it completely, select 'no' and explain why. 

Section B - Residential Development 

 

Currently, the Buildings Accessibility Act does not apply to private homes. With this in mind, please indicate whether you completely agree with each of the following recommendations from the Buildings Accessibility Advisory Board (BAAB) related to accessibility and residential development.

THE BAAB RECOMMENDS THAT: 

  • The scope of the Act be expanded to include private homes.
  • Owners of home-based businesses providing in-person services be required to make their business accessible to persons with disabilities.
  • All new home construction be required to meet a minimum level of accessibility (for example, wider hallways and doorways, constructing the walls to allow for the installation of grabs bars or ceiling lifts, etc.).
  • Developers constructing multiple homes in a residential area be required to build a percentage of homes that are fully accessible.

Please note the following when making your decision:

  • For the purpose of this question, 'completely agree; means that you agree with the recommendation in full and would not make any changes.
  • If you only agree with the recommendation in part and would make changes, or if you disagree with the recommendation entirely and would change it completely, select "no" and explain why. 

Section C – Additional Building Accessibility Related Topics

 

Please answer the following questions related to some additional topics addressed by the BAAB in their report.

Please indicate whether you completely agree with each of the following recommendations from the Buildings Accessibility Advisory Board (BAAB).

THE BAAB RECOMMENDS THAT: 

  • The definition of persons with disabilities be expanded to include mental, intellectual, visual, hearing and other identifiable accessibility disabilities.
  • Buildings with an occupant load of 300 persons or more should be equipped with a full-service family washroom with an adult change table.

Please note the following when making your decision:

  • For the purpose of this question, 'completely agree' means that you agree with the recommendation in full and would not make any changes.

  • If you only agree with the recommendation in part and would make changes, or if you disagree with the recommendation entirely and would change it completely, select 'no' and explain why.

Section D – Demographics

 

These questions are for research and statistical purposes only. Please be assured that your responses will be kept strictly confidential.

Submissions are closed.