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September 17, 2008

Have a say in the HRM Council election

Your Society is asking candidates for the HRM Council election on October 18 to endorse our Agenda for an Accessible Halifax. If you are in agreement with this initiative, you can send a message to the candidates urging their participation by clicking the link at the bottom or using the list of candidates to compose your own email.

Dear HRM Council Candidate,

It is estimated that 20% of Nova Scotians live with a disability. In order to achieve a fully accessible and barrier free HRM, the James McGregor Stewart Society seeks your support for some important measures. Most of these measures require only common sense and consideration of the needs of disabled Haligonians.

The names of candidates, their indication or absence of support and their comments are posted on our website http://jmcgs.blogspot.com/ Thank you in advance for supporting this initiative.

If elected to the HRM Regional Council, during my term I will support the following measures to ensure a more accessible Halifax:

Government

-All public meetings must be held in accessible locations, with appropriate amenities (signers, accessible washrooms) served by scheduled and accessible public transportation.
-There will be continuing emphasis on HRM website accessibility
-There will be an accessibility section in the Annual Report, detailing accomplishments
-HRM sponsored or funded events will be accessible to everyone
-I will encourage and pay attention to the HRM Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities


Infrastructure

-The HRM Municipal Service System Guidelines (Redbook) will be continually monitored to include modern standards of accessible design for infrastructure
-Heritage properties which are public accommodations will have a plan for accessibility
-HRM will develop plans to eliminate barriers in currently Inaccessible public facilities and budget accordingly


Municipal Services

-A fully accessible public transportation system, including taxis, remains one of HRM's highest priorities
-Public Safety and services must pay special attention to the needs of people with disabilities – for example:
-Include disability considerations in snow removal standards (curb cut clearing, bus platforms, tactile clues)
-zero tolerance for crimes against disabled people
-Emergency measures should address planning and protection for disabled people.


Thank you for your support.

Members of the James McGregor Stewart Society are asked to send emails encouraging candidates to support the Agenda for an Accessible Halifax.

Click to start an email to all candidates who have yet to respond

Or if your browser does not support mailto tags, cut and paste from this list:



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