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

Mon Apr 6 22:15:09 UTC 2015

Hi Gary yes you are right in many ways there is many things that will help
us as users in BC. I am a little concerned about having more ID but if this
helps stops people with fake dogs in BC I will gladly use it. My concern is
people coming into the and not having the BC ID and having problems. This is
my biggest concern.

Yes I haven't yet kept a retired guide dog and I own a town house but if I
did ever want to this law helps me and many others in the years to come.

I think BC is just the start of improvements for us as users. Yes there will
maybe be something that isn't perfect but it will work itself out in all
ways.

Louise and Princess Kiara who live in BC and enjoy it

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of GARY STEEVES via
nagdu
Sent: April 6, 2015 10:38 AM
To: Daryl Marie
Cc: the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British Columbia,
Canada

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 conver  sation 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 w  hat 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 ve  ry 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
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