IN response to the Auditor General’s report on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities, NDP Critic for Disability Inclusion Bonita Zarrillo said on Monday that the findings that two-thirds of people with a disability find barriers on planes and trains in Canada is unacceptable.

She said that Canadians living with a disability expect and deserve accessible, quality services, including transportation.

Noting that the AG report highlighted that websites for planning and booking trips remained inaccessible to persons living with a disability, Zarrillo said: “This is completely unacceptable.”

She pointed out: “Just yesterday, there was another story of discriminatory treatment of a family just trying to access a flight with a wheelchair. The Liberal government must step up to fix these issues. In federally regulated sectors, government is expected to do everything possible to lift all barriers that prevent Canadians living with a disability from travelling.

“This means ensuring that the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Via Rail and the Canadian Transportation Agency are held accountable for failing to make travel more accessible. The government also has an obligation to ensure that resources are available and staff are trained to deliver the services people living with a disability depend on.”

New Democrats called on the Liberals to do what’s right to ensure that people living with a disability face no barriers when travelling.