We Need Your Signatures: E-petition for universal design

Posted on by Nadia Pestrak
“Wonderful news:  our federal petition has just surpassed 1000 signatures, largely due to the support of CARP’s advocacy.

However, we still have until November 30 to collect more signatures before the petition closes.  More signatures would strengthen our plea to the House of Commons to act on this vital issue — not just for seniors but for all Canadians.”

— Accessible Housing Network

CARP knows that housing is an issue on a lot of older Canadians’ minds.
Did you know that no building code in Canada mandates that housing be accessible?  With over 22% of Canadians with disabilities and an ageing population who largely wants to age in place, this needs to change.
Recently, MP Mike Morrice introduced an e-petition advocating for universal design to the House of Commons.
  • Housing policy discriminates against people with disabilities;
  • No building code in Canada mandates that housing be accessible;
  • Thousands are forced out of their dwellings at the most vulnerable time in their lives because their homes are not accessible for them;
  • This results in “hallway medicine” in hospitals, and long waiting lists for nursing homes;
  • Millions of health care dollars could be saved by enabling people to remain in their own accessible homes;
  • Approval and financing of inaccessible housing contravenes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability; and
  • Universal design is defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as the design of an environment that can be accessed, understood and used by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.
CARP is asking you to go online using the link below and consider signing the petition, which intends to make new housing of all kinds accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
MP Mike Morrice needs at least 500 signatures to present the petition to the House of Commons. We’ve got more than double that, but let’s keep going to show Parliament that thousands in Canada are behind accessible housing and universal design.