March 16, 2023
Open letter to PEI provincial Party leaders
Accessible public transit is essential to ensure Islanders who are blind and low vision can safely and independently navigate their communities.
As Canada’s largest and longest-standing organization serving people who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind, CNIB often hears concerns from community members about their experiences with public transit in PEI. Basic accessibility features like next stop announcements and Braille or tactile signage at designated stops are absent throughout the system, and severe safety risks are presented by the many designated stops that lack sidewalks and wayfinding tools. These features not only help people living with sight loss but all others who are seeking information in their public transit journeys.
Without reliable and affordable access to public transit, individuals who are blind or low vision are forced to rely on personal networks for assistance or must risk using services that are unsafe in order to meet their needs. Consequently, they may face higher rates of unemployment, increased social isolation, and limited recreational opportunities.
The Government of Canada, with the support of all provinces and territories, recognized the need for accessible transit when it ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010. Article 9 of the CRPD mandates that parties ensure persons with disabilities have equal access to public services including transportation in both rural and urban areas, yet Islanders with sight loss are still waiting for meaningful progress over a decade later.
While the introduction of a province-wide integrated transit system is an innovative and positive step forward, those living with sight loss continue to face significant barriers which prevent them from fairly accessing the benefits of these services. The removal of these barriers to public transportation will benefit all Islanders, not just those with sight loss, particularly since demographic trends are clear that enhanced accessible public transit will be necessary for the province’s aging population to age in place.
Therefore, as the Island’s public transit infrastructure expands, CNIB is calling on your Party to publicly commit to undertake measurable steps in consultation with the sight loss community to remove existing barriers to public transit for Islanders who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind, and to ensure accessibility for all future investments in public transit infrastructure. This commitment will tell Islanders with sight loss that your Party will prioritize this critical need and collaborate with CNIB to create a barrier-free PEI.
Through the Government of Prince Edward Island’s continued leadership, the effectiveness of vital investments in public transit can be maximized to expand affordable public transit in ways that are accessible to all Islanders.
As we will be posting each Party Leader’s response on our website, your immediate attention is requested. Please ensure that your response is created in an accessible document. We look forward to your prompt response.
CNIB looks forward to ensuring PEI’s next Government and Members of the Legislature to prioritize the needs and inclusion of Islanders who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind.
Sincerely,
Duane Morgan
Vice-President, Atlantic Canada
CNIB
About CNIB
Celebrating 100 years in 2018, CNIB Foundation is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empowers people impacted by blindness to live their dreams and tear down barriers to inclusion. Now, as CNIB enters our second century of operation, we're going to be even bolder in tackling the issues before us.