The City of Montreal is a universally accessible city, allowing everyone to exercise their rights and carry out their daily activities independently and without hindrance, regardless of their abilities.
In June 2011, the City of Montreal adopted its Municipal Policy on Universal Accessibility (Appendix I). This policy confirms the city's commitment to continuing its efforts to make Montreal a universally accessible city. The latest action plan stemming from this policy, the 2015-2018 Action Plan, includes 12 major initiatives involving 35 municipal units, including all 19 boroughs. The Municipal Policy on Universal Accessibility guides the city's actions and targets four areas of intervention:
Property accessibility
Interventions
Every year, projects and work are carried out to make Montreal more accessible. This includes the development of buildings and public spaces to make them more accessible.
Building accessibility
The Quebec Construction Code includes specific requirements for building accessibility for people with disabilities. A guide on building accessibility is available to assist construction industry stakeholders and anyone interested in promoting a more accessible built environment.
Interventions and arrangements
Montreal is implementing various interventions to improve accessibility, such as widening sidewalks for universal accessibility and creating new sponge streets.
Standards
accessibility
Accessibility criteria for properties aim to ensure that buildings and spaces are usable by all people, regardless of their physical abilities. These criteria include elements such as:
Barrier-free access: Entrances and exits must be accessible to people in wheelchairs, with ramps or elevators.
Doors and corridors: Doors must be wide enough to allow wheelchairs to pass through, and corridors must be clear and sufficiently wide.
Bathrooms: Bathrooms must be equipped with grab bars, accessible showers and adapted toilets.
Signage: Clear and legible signage must be installed to guide people with visual or hearing impairments.
Assistance programs
There are programs designed to provide financial support to businesses that wish to improve access to their building for customers with reduced mobility.
Owners and tenants of buildings used for commercial activities can benefit from a grant covering up to 90% of eligible expenses, without exceeding $40,000.
Eligible expenses include:
Replacement of doors providing access to the building.
Installation of electric door openers.
The installation of ramps or lifting platforms.
Changes
inexpensive
If you are not eligible for certain assistance programs or would like to make modifications, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation offers a list of free or low-cost modifications.
Here are some examples:
Improve visibility by painting the threshold in a contrasting color, and facilitate entry for people with limited strength by removing storm doors or screen doors.
Simplify door opening with a door handle or lever handle and widen doorways with pivot hinges.
Arrange furniture to create clear circulation paths, attach or remove rugs, and use different colors or textures on floors to make navigation easier.
Choose a non-slip floor covering or apply a non-slip coating to the tiles.
Using a folding or wall-mounted table to create more space for mobility aids.
Add a safety mat and grab bars to the bathtub.
Install a shallow sink that can be used while standing or sitting.
Installation of motion detectors for automatic lighting.
