Politicians opened a new wheelchair entrance to the B.C. legislature Monday, improving disability access at the historic capital building.
The path, located near the front entrance, curves into a basement door and provides direct access to the building’s elevator.
“It’s unbelievably well done,” said Speaker Bill Barisoff.
The construction involved relocating several offices and installing new stone work to the front of the legislature, which was built in 1898.
“It was very very difficult cutting through the rock but as you can see they did a fabulous job,” said legislature clerk Craig James.
The new path makes the building more accessible for people with disabilities, said Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux, who uses a wheelchair.
Though the legislature has wheelchair ramps at the rear of the structure, they are too steep for many to use, said Cadieux. As well, a motorized lift outside its east annex is often out of service.
“Being independent means a lot,” said Cadieux.
“Most of us take it for granted that we can go where we want to go and go through the doors we want to go through.
“The reality is for people with disabilities that’s not always the case. The legislature is a very old building, it was built in a different time. Many modifications had been made prior to my arriving, but there was one left to do and that was to improve access in terms of the ramps.”
The legislature had budgeted $400,000 for the wheelchair path, elevator upgrades, renovations to the rear ramp and improvements to the rose garden. The final bill was $25,000 under budget, said James.
