Nobody deserves to be alone without any way to ask for help during times of crisis. However, for many deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and speech-impaired (DHHSI) Northerners, this fear is a stark reality.
In each of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 provinces, text to 9-1-1 service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing call centres to communicate with DHHSI individuals during an emergency, ensuring immediate access to help when itSA国际影视传媒檚 needed most.
Access to emergency services can mean the difference between life and death, which is why itSA国际影视传媒檚 so shocking that workers and families in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut still donSA国际影视传媒檛 have access to text to 9-1-1. The situation in Nunavut is particularly dire, where residents are still forced to navigate four different phone numbers to reach bylaw, fire, ambulance or police services.
As is too often the case across the North, residents are paying more but getting less. This year, NWT residents began paying CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 highest 9-1-1 cost recovery fee, $3 a month. Yet, the services we receive donSA国际影视传媒檛 reflect this price tag.
This lack of service is more than an inconvenience; it puts vulnerable Northerners at greater risk when every second counts. Our communities are once again being left behind.
Accessibility is not a luxury; itSA国际影视传媒檚 a fundamental right. Yet, systemic barriers often prevent marginalized communities from fully participating in society. Whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 accessible emergency services, equitable workplaces or culturally sensitive public programs, Northerners deserve better.
It isnSA国际影视传媒檛 news that the North lacks sufficient accessibility support. From our workplaces to our communities, we need to do more to ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to live safely and with dignity. As safety concerns and barriers faced by DHHSI communities SA国际影视传媒� along with other vulnerable groups SA国际影视传媒� in the North have been magnified by the pandemic and recent climate-related disasters, we all have a role to play in pushing for change.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada has launched a campaign SA国际影视传媒� conceived by Northern members SA国际影视传媒� to demand the implementation of text to 9-1-1 services across all three territories. Members have sent hundreds of emails (via the PSAC North website) and postcards to the prime minister and territorial leaders, urging them to fund and implement this essential service immediately.
Workers have always been at the forefront of the fight for disability rights. Union members have spent decades advocating for accessibility and the duty to accommodate within workplaces and the labour movement itself. From protecting benefits like sick leave and disability insurance to advancing employment equity, the labour movement is about creating a society where persons with disabilities can participate fully and equally.
However, despite significant gains, we know the struggle is far from over. In the North and across Canada, persons with disabilities still face stigma and underrepresentation in the workplace. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why itSA国际影视传媒檚 critical that our fight for accessibility doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 stop at emergency services but extends to every corner of our society, ensuring that all Northerners can live with dignity, safety and respect, regardless of ability. Moreover, advocacy isnSA国际影视传媒檛 limited to one area of life; itSA国际影视传媒檚 about fighting for justice wherever we can make an impact.
WeSA国际影视传媒檝e seen what collective action can accomplish. Whether pushing for fair wages, improved housing services or stronger public healthcare, our efforts ripple outward, strengthening our communities. Accessibility is no different. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a collective responsibility requiring a united front.
I encourage Northerners to embrace their responsibility and to learn about their rights and the rights of their vulnerable colleagues. Even a small act, like familiarizing ourselves with laws on the duty to accommodate and freedom from discrimination, can empower us to speak up for others. Whether simply by starting a conversation in your workplace, writing a letter or joining a community organization or union equity committee, every action brings us closer to a North where no one is left behind.
Together, we can ensure that emergency services SA国际影视传媒� and our communities SA国际影视传媒� are inclusive, accessible and safe for all.
