Province moves to improve accessibility in Nova Scotia
Posted Mar 18, 2025 04:54:49 AM.
Last Updated Mar 18, 2025 11:03:23 AM.
The province says it is taking steps to make Nova Scotia more accessible over the next five years.
On Monday, the government announced it would adopt the first of six accessibility standards aimed at improving access for Nova Scotians.
“Every Nova Scotian deserves equal access to buildings and outdoor spaces. This milestone is crucial in our efforts to create a more accessible province and represents a significant step toward ensuring that all Nova Scotians can participate and thrive,” Justice Minister Becky Druhan, who is responsible for the Accessibility Act, said in a release.
Nova Scotia has approved the Built Environment Accessibility Standard, which sets rules for outdoor and recreational spaces. These will be required in the design and planning of new infrastructure starting April 1, 2026.
The Nova Scotia Building Code regulations will also be amended to address building accessibility.
“Nova Scotia has always been an early adopter of new codes and standards. The adoption of the Built Environment Accessibility Standard is no exception and will improve accessibility for all Nova Scotians where they live, work, learn and play, now and in the future,” said George Cotaras, president of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects.
The government says the standard will help ensure better parking options, easier access to eating areas and benches in parks, as well as, accessible lockers and pools in new recreation facilities for people with disabilities.
The province says nearly 59 per cent of Nova Scotians with disabilities report experiencing barriers in the built environment.
