[nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British Columbia, Canada

Mon Apr 6 17:37:41 UTC 2015

Hi all:

I'm slow in getting time to respond to this thread. I'm probably not getting something since, from my perspective, nothing much is changing. First of all, I was required to get an id for Bogart when I came back from my school which is in his harness pouch. I also have the photo id from the school. I have never been asked to provide either of these pieces of id. I have been asked if Bogart is a guide dog and once I explain he is and I am blind there is never an issue.

I think those who are visually impaired have the least to worry about since it is usually obvious what the dog is doing for us. It could actually make life easier for those with other disabilities and different types of service dogs who are constantly hassled. I know of a deaf woman with a service dog who is always having troubles with taxis. (don't we all but her are worse).

As a person living in a rental suite I really want this legislation to pass so I never have to worry about having to move when Bogart retires, even if I immediately get a new guide dog. Same if I purchased a condo or townhouse. Right now retired service dogs are not protected so if I lived in a non-pet building I could be forced to move or send Bogart elsewhere when he retires. I guess it depends on what is important to people when reviewing the legislation.

I think many people comment on the media reports and don't read the whole legislation. Of course there will be things in the legislation that are just stupid but who would be enforcing them. for example I heard the attorney general mention that one couldn't use non-school harnesses any longer. How and who is going to enforce such a thing?

Anyway, I guess it is all about what people are worried about. If a person never keeps their retired guide dogs, or lives in a house, ththen what I really like about the legislation won't even catch their attention. I'd rather fight for changes than have the new legislation not go through at all

I think it is great to further educate the politicians and their staff since I think there is a lot of ignorance about service animals out there but threatening seems a bit silly at this point.

I'll spray on my flame retardent now. <chuckle>

Gary
  ----- Original Message ----- From: Daryl Marie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org> Sent: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:41:45 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: [nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British Columbia, Canada Dudley, Thanks so much for pushing back. While I have supported BC/Alberta Guide Dogs and their training, this has definitely given me pause. I hope this bill does not get pushed through, as it creates further problems while trying to "solve" others that don't exist. When I was in New York with my guide, I saw dogs everywhere! Ironically, the only dog that ever gave us any trouble was a "certified" police dog in the Subway. So fakers will be fakers... Daryl ----- Original Message ----- From: Dudley Hanks via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> To: 'Heather Hutchison' <heather at heather-hutchison.com>, 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org> Sent: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:14:16 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: [nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British Columbia, Canada In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms trumps this type of legislation. The proposed bill violates two provisions of the Charter: the guarantee of freedom of mobility, and the guarantee of security of person. Since the proposed legislation would require all Guide Dog handlers to be certified within the province, it violates the mobility clause, in that it prevents freedom of mobility from other parts of Canada. And, since placing restrictions on the use of a Guide Dog could potentially endanger the safety of the handler, it runs afoul of the security of person clause. I've already sent letters to the British Columbia Solicitor Ge neral, Minister Suzanne Anton, and a couple of relevant subordinates within her department explaining my point, as well as to William Thornton, the CEO of Alberta British Columbia Guide Dogs, who apparently supports the bill. Actually, I had a phone conversation with Mr. Thornton this afternoon, and he doesn't seem all that pleased that others think differently. Oh, well, I'd say the bill has a snowball's chance in hell of going anywhere. And, if it gets passed, it will be struck down quickly on a Charter challenge. Regards, Dudley, with Michener -----Original Message----- From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Heather Hutchison via nagdu Sent: March-23-15 4:03 PM To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users Subject: [nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British Columbia, Canada Hey all, Just wanting opinions on this proposed legislation in British Columbia, Canada, where I live (article below). I am currently between dogs bu t am quite concerned about a number of things, to the point where if this legislation passes I will have to think very hard about whether or not to get another guide. I am not thrilled about the requirement that all dogs come from accredited schools, but what concerns me even more is that from my understanding, a handler will be forced to present some sort of government issued ID to gain access to any public facility with their dog. This seems like a violation of privacy and human rights (especially if the handler's name and info is on this ID), it isn't reasonable in my opinion to require something of a service dog handler that is not required of anyone else. I don't like the idea of giving anyone who works at a business the right to be the service dog police, and the stress of having to defend my choice of mobility aid at every turn and prove I'm not a fraud makes me think I might just stick with the cane. I was really hoping this legislation would be much closer to the AD A, sigh. Thoughts? -Heather Fake ID is going to the dogs - rather too much, as it turns out. But a proposed B.C. law aims to stop people labelling dogs without proper training as service dogs, by creating government issued dog ID and a provincial registry. "It'll be a bit like a service dog driving licence if you like," Bill Thornton, the CEO of BC and Alberta Guide Dogs, an organization that trains service dogs, told Daybreak South's Chris Walker. Service dogs don't just include seeing eye dogs trained to help people who are visually impaired. They're also trained to help people in wheelchairs, people with hearing impairments, autism or to act as seizure alert dogs. Thornton said over the past decade it has become easier to buy fake service dog tags and jackets online. The identification tags allow the dog to accompany its owner to places dogs aren't usually allowed - such as restaurants or on public transit. Thornton said he's seeing more and more situations involving fak e service dog IDs, but it's difficult for most people to deal with. "It is an awkward circumstance for someone to challenge someone who purports to have a disability and they've got a jacket on the dog - it's very difficult and often those folks behave very poorly when challenged," he said. He said the new law would make things better for everyone, including people who legitimately need a service dog. "They'll be able to check for the . licence and if you have it then you're entitled to go in, and if you don't have it you're not entitled to come in with the dog. The new Guide Dog and Service Dog Act would also standardize training and certification in the province. It has passed its first reading and is expected to be implemented in the fall. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fake-service-dog-id-brought-t o-heel-by-proposed-b-c-law-1.3003532 _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nag du_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dhanks%40dudley-hanks.com _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/crazymusician%40shaw.ca _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rainshadowmusic%40shaw.ca