Universal accessibility: The Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct—Annual Report 2022 to 2023

On this page

• The Universal Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan
• Engagement of persons with disabilities
• Partnerships
• Universal Accessibility Audit Program
• Leveraging the modernization and Rehabilitation Program
• Accessibility Standards Canada

Achieving Universal Accessibility (UA) excellence is a key priority for Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) as part of the ongoing restoration and modernization of the Parliamentary Precinct.

The Universal Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan

The Department completed a Universal Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct in fall 2022. It provides guidance and informs the implementation of UA improvements across the parliamentary campus. It is a practical and phased approach to identifying and integrating UA improvements within projects of all scales, as well as other initiatives related to the built environment, maintenance and operations of facilities. The Strategy sets out a path forward to leverage the current rehabilitation and modernization program to deliver a more inclusive and universally accessible Parliamentary Precinct.

Engagement of persons with disabilities

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is committed to the “nothing without us” approach, ensuring that the lived experience informs accessibility in the Parliamentary Precinct. The Parliamentary Precinct’s UA Advisory Committee met three times in 2022 to 2023 to finalize the Strategy. Consisting of persons with disabilities along with numerous national advocacy groups and federal employees with disabilities, the group provides accessibility advice and project review to PSPC.

Partnerships

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the Parliamentary Partners are working closely together towards the common goal of a universally accessible Parliamentary Precinct. The Parliamentary Precinct UA Working Group met throughout the year to ensure close collaboration on:

• Coordinating implementation of quick fixes;
• UA priority setting; and
• Consultations on projects and initiatives, such as upgrading to the current interior signage guidelines.

Partners have also developed and adopted their own accessibility plans as a requirement under the Accessible Canada Act.

Universal Accessibility Audit Program

To establish a baseline of the level of universal accessibility in the buildings and grounds, and to identify the necessary improvements, UA audits are being conducted based on a set of comprehensive UA Best Practices. The results of these audits provide the basis for UA improvements being planned as part of major rehabilitations, life cycle repair, replacement projects as well as quick fixes. In 2022 to 2023, four crown-owned UA audits were completed, along with two UA audits of leased assets.

Leveraging the modernization and Rehabilitation Program 

UA is actively being incorporated in major rehabilitation and new construction projects in the Precinct such as:

• Centre Block Rehabilitation—the inclusive design objectives of the project will ensure Canada’s most iconic building is accessible for all Canadians. Examples include a direct path of travel from the Centennial Flame to the Chamber galleries, accessible passenger elevators, an increase in the number of stairwells, gender inclusive washrooms and family rooms. In addition, the project is seeking the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, which is a national rating system that measures and certifies the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites. This will ensure the project is considering access for all Canadians to allow for a more diverse use of the building.
• Block 2—this project will include new construction and rehabilitation of existing heritage buildings, and aims to implement UA Best Practices, which will include: accessible entrance with intuitive and easily navigable spaces, larger primary paths of travel, UA washrooms on all floors, tactile attention indicators at tops of stairs, wider doorways, proper colour contrast between various elements in the building to aid persons with low vision, areas of refuge, adjustable lighting and much more.

Life cycle repair and replacement (recapitalization) projects for Confederation and Justice Buildings include life and safety as well as higher priority UA improvements.

Dozens of recapitalization projects are also incorporating UA improvements. The range of these projects include:

• East Block—Governor General Entrance UA improvements project. In July 2022, a study was completed to assess modifications required to make the East Block Governor General’s Entrance universally accessible. The planned upgrades will ensure inclusive, barrier-free building access for all, including a vertical lift to make the three stair risers universally accessible in the Governor General’s Entrance vestibule. The project is seeking to introduce an invisible lift for the first time in Canada, which will also be considered a pilot for the Centre Block rehabilitation project. 
• Grounds—Refection of the sidewalk north of the Confederation Building to remove stairs and create a gentle slope maneuverable by all.
• Confederation Building—North entrance door replacement.
• West Block—Additional power door operators installation.

UA quick fixes are also being implemented throughout the Precinct, to remove barriers that require minimal intervention to resolve. These interventions can include removing furniture and various protrusions from paths of travel, adjusting the height of wall mounted items, the timing of doors, the colour contrast of various building elements, and other barriers that can be resolved with relative ease.

Accessibility Standards Canada

In March 2023, a memorandum of understanding was put in place between Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) to work closely together in the review of accessibility standards and the collaboration toward making the built environment as accessible and inclusive as possible. The main goal of this collaboration is for PSPC to become an early adopter of the ASC Model Standard for the Built Environment currently under development. In pragmatic terms, it will help ensure that key projects such as the Centre Block and Block 2 incorporate focused UA strategies.