Inaccessible trains

I got this article from my friend and I thought I'd post it on to y'all.

Posted (and easier to read) at:http://dawn.thot.net/ccd_via_rail2.html

Supreme Court of Canada to Rule on Access Rights of Persons withDisabilities

Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)Press Release - May 17, 2006

The leadership of Canada's disability community will be in the Supreme Courtof Canada at 9:30 am on May 19th, where the community's access rights willbe interpreted by the country's highest court for the first time. In October2003 the Canadian Transportation Agency [CTA] ordered VIA Rail to make itsrecently purchased rail cars accessible to persons with mobility and visiondisabilities. In March 2005 the Federal Court of Appeal overturned thisdecision, saying people with disabilities who can't use the new trains willhave to find other means of transportation.

Before the trains were purchased, using 100% taxpayer money, former LiberalTransport Minister David Collenette promised the trains would meet the CTA'strain accessibility standards. When told the trains were inaccessibleCollenette washed his hands of the matter, suggesting VIA seek the CTA'sguidance on the issue. VIA refused. Faced with Canada being the onlydeveloped country in the world where new inaccessible trains could bebrought into service, and with the CTA unable to act on its own initiative,the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), on behalf of it broadmembership, applied to the CTA for a ruling on whether or not the trainswere legal.

"First we were lied to, then we were left to bear the unbelievable costs oflitigating against a crown corporation which seems willing to spend more onlegal fees than the CTA found it would cost to make the trains accessible",said Pat Danforth, chair of the CCD Transportation Committee.

VIA boasts of having achieved an "incredible bargain" by outbidding Iraq andMorocco, for trains by paying slightly more than their scrap value.Competitive bidders were scarce for these trains. They could not have beenbrought into service in the United States, Britain or France for their lawsenforce access.

In addition to the access problems identified by the CTA, Transport Canadahas ruled the trains do not meet Canadian safety standards.

"Having saved hundreds of millions of dollars by buying inaccessible trainswe believe Canadian equality rights law, prohibiting discrimination on thebasis of disability, compels VIA to give back a small portion of that amountto make the trains accessible".

This is the issue to be decided by the Supreme Court of Canada.



My thoughts:
I definately think they should have to make the trains accessible. I travel VIA to get home on occasion and I would be really disappointed in them if they told me to "find alternate means of transportation". That seems really unfair... and un-constitutional (or whatever the Canadian equivalent would be.) I hope they enforce it that hey have to make the new trains accessible. Imagine being a first-world nation with inaccessible trains! No good can come of that.