New Act Expands Scope of Service Animals

The Provincial Government has introduced new legislation that expands the types of animals that can be used as service animals by persons with disabilities as well as the right of access for persons with disabilities. Bill 17, an Act Respecting the Service Animals Act received second reading in the House of Assembly today. The previous act regarding these matters, the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, will be repealed.

“Since the enactment of the Blind Persons’ Rights Act in 1981 there have been significant advances in training and use of service animals, beyond the traditional guide dog,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “Service animals are used by a number of different people with various disabilities such as autism, epilepsy, vision impairment, brain injury, hearing loss and mental illness. The new Service Animals Act recognizes this and will prohibit discrimination against a person with a service animal with respect to accommodations, services or facilities.”

The Service Animals Act expands the definition of service animal so it is not exclusively service dogs and it expands the definition of a person with a disability to be consistent with the Human Rights Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Provincial Government policy.

“Service animals provide important work and are specifically trained to provide the necessary supports and accommodations that allow persons living with disabilities to access their communities on an equal basis,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills and Minister responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities. “This province established a Disability Policy Office to ensure that people with disabilities are included in all aspects of society. The new Service Animals Act supports the goals of this office by guaranteeing rights and removing barriers to places such as hotels, restaurants, apartments or other services and facilities on the basis of a service animal.”

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2012 05 31             4:05 p.m.