Introduction

This is the first annual report on The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (ASA). Over the last year, the Government of Saskatchewan has taken steps to increase accessibility in Saskatchewan and implement the legislation including:

• bringing The Accessible Saskatchewan Act into force on December 3, 2023;
• developing and bringing into force The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations on December 3, 2023;
• creating the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office;
• establishing the Accessibility Advisory Committee; and,
• working to create the Government of Saskatchewan’s first accessibility plan by December 3, 2024.

These actions are a key step in making Saskatchewan a more accessible province for persons with disabilities and we look forward to the work ahead.

Accomplishments in 2023-24

The Accessible Saskatchewan Act

The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (ASA) came into force on December 3, 2023.

The ASA will allow government to remove and prevent accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities and advance our vision of an inclusive Saskatchewan that is welcoming, responsive, innovative, and accessible, where everyone can fully participate and live the life they choose.

The ASA allows government to establish accessibility standards and regulations related to the built environment, information and communications, employment, transportation, service animals, procurement, and service delivery.

The ASA provides for the involvement of persons with disabilities, the public sector and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of accessibility standards.

The ASA provides the authority for the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office to monitor, review, and encourage compliance with accessibility standards.

If you would like to learn more about the ASA, you can read a summary of the Act here.

Saskatchewan Accessibility Office

In summer 2023, the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office (SAO) was established to support the administration of the ASA, including:

• advising the Minister of Social Services on the development and review of accessibility legislation and standards;
• developing public awareness and education related to the ASA;
• monitoring compliance and enforcement measures such as inspections, compliance orders, administrative penalties, and appeals; and,
• receiving complaints related to non-compliance with the ASA and its regulations.

The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations

The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations came into force on December 3, 2023, and identify organizations as public sector bodies that must develop an accessibility plan under the ASA.

Public sector bodies must publicly post their accessibility plan by December 3, 2025, and must follow the same requirements for developing an accessibility plan as the Government of Saskatchewan.

Download The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations from the King's Printer.(External link)

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The ASA requires the Minister of Social Services to appoint between 9 and 15 people to an Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC).

Between September 14 and October 15, 2023, the Ministry of Social Services accepted applications from Saskatchewan residents interested in participating on the AAC. The ministry advertised this opportunity through email communications to disability and accessibility-related organizations, emails to registered accounts on accessiblesk.saskatchewan.ca, social media posts, posters distributed to libraries across the province, and a media release.

In total, 182 Saskatchewan residents applied to join the AAC. On March 1, 2024, the Minister of Social Services appointed 15 people to the AAC. Members of the committee have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences with disability, and knowledge about the barriers that exist in the province and the impact these barriers have on persons with disabilities. The majority of AAC members identify as persons with disabilities, and all have personal, lived experience with disability.

The AAC provides advice to the Government of Saskatchewan on proposed accessibility standards, public awareness and education initiatives, and other accessibility-related matters for which the Minister seeks advice.

The members of Saskatchewan’s first AAC include:

• Cole Pringle – Chair
• Barry Anderson – Vice-Chair
• Alejandra Van Dusen
• Allard Thomas
• Amy Alsop
• Anne Robins
• Bobbi Janzen
• David Fourney
• Dea Orendi
• Jessica Frotten
• Logan Tonge
• Michelle Walsh
• Patrick Chubb
• Shannon Friesen
• Tracy Johnson

Next Steps

Under the ASA, the Government of Saskatchewan is required to publicly post an accessibility plan by December 3, 2024. An accessibility plan identifies the actions that the Government of Saskatchewan will take to remove and prevent accessibility barriers for persons who interact with government facilities, programs, and services.

After an initial accessibility plan is posted, the plan is required to be reviewed and updated at least once every three years.

When developing an accessibility plan, the Government of Saskatchewan must consult with persons with disabilities. The SAO planning process included the development of a public survey to be posted during spring 2024 to seek feedback about the accessibility barriers that Saskatchewan citizens experience when they use Government of Saskatchewan facilities, programs, and services. The results of this survey will be used to help guide the Government of Saskatchewan in the development of its accessibility plan.

Contact Information

If you require this document in an alternate format, please contact the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office at:

14th Floor, 1920 Broad Street
Regina, SK S4P 3V6
Toll-free: 1-877-915-7468
Phone: 306-787-7283
Email: accessiblesk@gov.sk.ca(External link)