Projet Montreal unveils accessibility plan, opponents not impressed
Projet Montreal leader Valerie Plante said Saturday that, if elected on Nov. 7, her team will kick her party's universal accessibility plan into high gear.
Her Ensemble Montreal rivals, however, say she's had more than enough time and is lagging.
Projet Montreal said it will accelerate its in-progress plan to install elevators in metro stations and develop universally accessible parks, adding that ableism was added to the Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities.
In the next four years, Projet Montreal says it will offer delivery services for people with disabilities and functional limitations, create a directory for universally accessible businesses, and ensure that universally accessible city-subsidized social and community housing projects are publicized.
The party added that 14 more universally accessible metro stations will be up and running within four years.
Ensemble Montreal Lachine borough mayoral candidate Lise Poulin uses a wheelchair and called the announcement a step backward.
"While the STM planned to have 41 universally accessible metro stations by 2025, the Plante administration is announcing this morning a two-year delay in the implementation of the STM's universal accessibility plan," she said. "It is amazing to hold a press conference to announce such a setback."
Poulin pointed out that Montreal's ombudsman's office received more than 300 complaints about Plante's safe active lanes that were installed in summer 2020.
Plante said her party has worked hard to ensure every citizen in the metropolis has access to barrier-free environments.
"We have worked tirelessly to provide Montrealers with a more accessible and inclusive city and universal accessibility will continue to be a priority for Projet Montréal over the next four years," she said. "We are determined to take concrete action to improve the city's architectural and urban accessibility and to ensure that everyone has equal access to programs, services, employment and communications."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.