Chief Commissioner of CHRC appoints interim Accessibility Commissioner

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is pleased to announce Dianna Scarth will serve as Interim Accessibility Commissioner for 90 days, effective February 24, 2025.

Dianna has served as a Commissioner with the Canadian Human Rights Commission since July 2018.

Between 2018 and 2024, she was a member of the Manitoba Accessibility Advisory Council which has the responsibility to make recommendations to the Minister regarding the development of standards under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

Between 1996 and 2012, Dianna served as Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. In that role, amongst many responsibilities, she led the Commission’s work to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the province.

Dianna is excited to work with the team in the Office of the Accessibility Commissioner to ensure a barrier-free Canada, as envisioned by the Accessible Canada Act.

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Background

  • When the Office of the Accessibility Commissioner is vacant, the Canadian Human Rights Act gives the Chief Commissioner the authority to appoint another member of the Commission to exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Accessibility Commissioner for up to 90 days.
  • The Accessible Canada Act is a federal law that aims to proactively identify, remove and prevent barriers facing people with disabilities in Canada. The federal government adopted the Act in 2019. The goal of the Act is to create a Canada without barriers by January 1, 2040.
  • The law will require federally regulated organizations remove barriers in the following areas: employment, the built environment, communication, information and communication technology, programs and services, and transportation.
  • The Accessibility Commissioner is appointed by Order in Council and is a member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Commission and the Commissioner operate independently from the government.

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