Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Outreach and Digital Transformation
A key task of the commission is to educate employers, businesses, community groups, and residents about their rights and responsibilities under the act. During 2018-2019, the commission reported that 15 communities were visited in person. Thirteen of these were visited as part of community wellness fairs organized by the Indigenous Health and Community Wellness Division of Health and Social Services. Due to the pandemic, the fairs have stopped and outreach will focus on online activities.
The committee commends the commission on improving their website. This includes enlarged buttons and increased colour contrasts to aid persons with visual disabilities. Other improvements include that documents and resources are made in an accessible format, such as MS Word documents.
Now is the time for government to update its web services, focusing on online communication and digital access. The government response to the COVID-19 pandemic relied heavily on online service.
Committee encourages the GNWT to take this important step to open the doors to persons with disabilities. Examples of service standards for accessibility of electronic platforms exist in other Canadian jurisdictions. Regulations created in Ontario establish accessibility standards for customer service, including training requirements of staff and service standards.
The GNWT can make concrete changes that will make a difference. This includes ensuring documents posted to government websites are accessible for users who do not have specific software for reading documents saved in portable document format.
Consequently, the committee recommends:
Recommendation 2
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories enhance digital access and inclusion for people living with disabilities in the NWT by reviewing current practices in serving the public and identifying measures to improve the existing situation with the goal to reduce the number of complaints to the Human Rights Commission on the grounds of disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, I will now pass the reading of the report to the MLA for Thebacha. Mahsi.