Disabled Manitoba politician loses fight for complete accessibility

Conservative MLA Steven Fletcher, who is a quadriplegic. (Photo: Fletcher’s official Twitter account)

WINNIPEG – A member of the Manitoba legislature who uses a motorized wheelchair says he has been “blindsided” by a ruling that his inability to access the entire chamber is not a violation of his parliamentary privileges.

Speaker Myrna Driedger ruled Monday that Conservative MLA Steven Fletcher, who is a quadriplegic, can participate in the legislature’s proceedings from his seat.

She said Fletcher has a desk, specialized equipment, an aide, and is able to take part in debate, move motions and vote.

Fletcher immediately filed a challenge of her ruling, and received the backing of NDP member Wab Kinew along with Tories Nicolas Curry, Andrew Smith, Kelly Bindle and Alan Lagimodiere.

But after a lengthy delay, the Tories voted to back the Speaker.

Driedger said she continues to explore the feasibility of a lift or of raising the floor, while taking the building’s heritage and building codes into consideration.

“I do not want anyone to take from this ruling that, as the Speaker, I am satisfied with the current physical layout of the chamber as it does not provide complete accessibility to a member, a staff member or a member of the public who use motorized devices,” said Driedger.

“This is simply not acceptable in 2016.”

Premier Brian Pallister said outside the house that making the chamber accessible will be expedited.

“The Speaker had a well-reasoned ruling,” he said. “At the same time, of course, recognizing Steven Fletcher faces more challenges in five minutes in the morning than most people get in a month.”

Fletcher said that installing what he dismissed as ugly, noisy, unreliable lifts beside the Speaker’s chair would be absurd, but he believes the floor can be raised to the level of the entrances.

The ramp at the front entrance to the building installed under former NDP premier Gary Doer did not destroy the heritage of the building, he said, adding that any heritage aspect promoting exclusion is not worth preserving.