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

Mon Apr 6 23:02:56 UTC 2015

It will definitely be a negative for people from outside of BC.  If I
had to go someplace to get a special ID while I was there I would just
choose to go to another place.

On 4/6/15, Louise Johnson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053