Articles about ‘Disability law’

Liberals to scrap policy that rejects sick, disabled immigrants

• November 27, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Liberals to scrap policy that rejects sick, disabled immigrants

“Canada is committed to ditching a policy that rejects immigrants because they’re sick or disabled and could be a drag on the health system, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen says.

Calling it an “important and sensitive” issue, Hussen said the government will look at all options to revamp the 40-year-old policy, which bars entry to applicants when they could be costly to public health or social service systems. » Read the rest

Canadian Transportation Agency rejects Via Rail’s efforts to limit wheelchair, mobility access on trains

• November 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Canadian Transportation Agency rejects Via Rail’s efforts to limit wheelchair, mobility access on trains

Bakerlaw clients, Martin Anderson and Marie Murphy, continue their fight for increased capacity  for mobility aids on Via Rail trains.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is rejecting Via Rail’s efforts to limit access on its trains for passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.  » Read the rest

People with episodic disabilities in Canada: Who are they and what supports do they need to obtain and retain employment?

• November 12, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on People with episodic disabilities in Canada: Who are they and what supports do they need to obtain and retain employment?

The research study entitled, Episodic Disabilities in Canada – People with episodic disabilities in Canada: Who are they and what supports do they need to obtain and retain employment?,  provides important analysis and research to assist people with episodic disabilities in pursuing human rights applications. » Read the rest

New federal legislation promises support for caregivers of people with disabilities

• October 25, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on New federal legislation promises support for caregivers of people with disabilities

The federal minister responsible for crafting Canada’s first national accessibility legislation, Kent Hehr, says the new law should be ready by Spring 2018, and should benefit not only people with disabilities, but their caregivers as well.

Read the full article, Canada’s first national accessibility law should be ready by next spring: Hehr, by Michelle McGuigge of the Canadian Press HERE (link). » Read the rest

David Baker reviews the new book, “Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law”, edited by Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

• October 20, 2017
• David Baker
• Comments Off on David Baker reviews the new book, “Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law”, edited by Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

Review (click HERE for the PDF version)

Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law, ed. Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

UBC Press, $32.95

The two editors of this valuable new addition to the small but growing literature on the law, history and politics of disability in Canada is most welcome. » Read the rest

McCreath v. Victoria Taxi (1987) Ltd., 2017 BCCA 342 – Blind British Columbia man loses discrimination case against taxi company

• October 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on McCreath v. Victoria Taxi (1987) Ltd., 2017 BCCA 342 – Blind British Columbia man loses discrimination case against taxi company

In a unanimous ruling on October 6, 2017, a panel of the British Columbia Court of Appeal held that Graeme McCreath, a blind man, was not discriminated against when he and his guide dog, Adrienne, were refused a taxi ride in 2014. » Read the rest

ABA in Ontario Schools Case Continues

• September 13, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on ABA in Ontario Schools Case Continues

Bakerlaw is gearing up for a hearing on October 12th regarding our client’s case against a local school board. Our client requires ABA in order to access his education and is not receiving it. You can read more about the case here (link). » Read the rest

Barriers in the Digital Workplace

• August 3, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Barriers in the Digital Workplace

Bakerlaw recently posted a story about its client, a federal public servant who is fighting to remove barriers in the digital workplace. You can read more about that story here (link).

A similar story was recently published which further explains the challenges persons with disabilities face when struggling to navigate inaccessible technology. » Read the rest

VIA Rail Creates More Barriers in Fight of Greater Accessibility

• July 27, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on VIA Rail Creates More Barriers in Fight of Greater Accessibility

Want an update on our clients’ continuing fight for greater accessibility on VIA Rail trains? Read this CBC, Canadian Press article here (link).

You can read our previous post on the continuing saga here (link).

Stay tuned for more updates; this case isn’t over yet . » Read the rest

Stewart v Elk Valley Coal Corp. Summary: SCC Reaffirms Test for Discrimination but Gives a Narrow Understanding of Addiction

• June 27, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Stewart v Elk Valley Coal Corp. Summary: SCC Reaffirms Test for Discrimination but Gives a Narrow Understanding of Addiction

On June 15, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its decision in the case of Stewart v Elk Valley Coal Corp., 2017 SCC 30.  The majority judgment affirmed the current framework for determining whether discrimination has occurred. However, bakerlaw is concerned that the majority decision could have a chilling effect on individuals suffering from an addiction, as the Court’s ruling hinged on a very narrow understanding of addiction, which impacted its decision on whether in this case, drug dependence was a factor in the termination of employment. » Read the rest