Portage la Prairie Council is taking a step forward in their work to improve accessibility within the city. Under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, municipalities with a population greater than 10,000 must have a plan in place to improve access to public areas. Finance Chair Brent Budz discussed their statement of commitment at last night's meeting, while also indicating public engagement will be a part of the plan's creation. A public meeting which will include disability advocacy organizations and other stakeholders is set to take place in Early September, leaving about four months for the plan to be completed. 

Budz says they'll be further discussing their commitment at their next meeting which is set for September 12th, a few days after the public meeting is set to take place. The creation of an accessibility plan has been on Council's radar for some time, and Budz says while the specifics haven't been identified there are some clear areas that need improvement.

"I quite honestly see situations that are going to have to be addressed. Creating the plan is one thing, but implementing it is another. There will be work that needs to be done, but we haven't fleshed that out just yet."

He feels four months to create the plan is enough time but says once it comes to making the improvements itself, it could take a few years. Improvements to access for customer service, information and communications, the built environment, employment, and transportation are all aspects that need to be considered by Council when creating the plan. Budz says meeting some of the standards will most likely have a cost association with the work, but the exact financial impact isn't known just yet.

"That's the one thing we still have to work on through the budget to understand the requirements of the act. Quite honestly, there will probably be some areas where we have to spend some money, so it could quite possibly have some budget implications."

The public meeting set for September 8th will take place at the PCU Centre between 4 and 7 p.m. While members of the public are encouraged to attend, organizations representing persons facing barriers will also be a part of the discussion.