New Petits établissements accessibles program managed by the SHQ

Eight million dollars to promote accessible businesses

Kéroul is pleased to hear about the launch of the new Petits établissements accessibles program by the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ).

With a budget of 8 million dollars over five years, this program will help subsidize up to 75% of the eligible construction costs to increase the accessibility of stores and small businesses, up to a maximum of $15,000.

The announcement was made as part of the Moelle Épinière et Motricité Québec awareness campaign, which was organized in collaboration with 15 disability advocacy organizations, including Kéroul, with the goal of making the public and decision makers more aware of the issues surrounding accessibility of stores and local services.

This program is as important for merchants as it is for their customers who have disabilities. It is part of a group of initiatives adopted by the government of Quebec to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities:

1)    The new Stratégie gouvernementale de développement durable 2015–2020 takes into account the inclusion of people with disabilities, in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals 2015–2030.

2)    The Programme de subvention à l’accessibilité des établissements touristiques, an investment of $5M over five years, managed by Kéroul.

3)    The Minister of Tourism signing the A World for Everyone” declaration, which is an international action plan to help implement the recommendations of the World Tourism Organization's recommendations to promote accessible tourism for all.

4)    The publication of a document regarding barrier-free municipalities and the best practices of Quebec cities (OPHQ and MAMOT).

5)    The prepublication of the Projet de règlement favorisant l’accessibilité à l’intérieur des logements d’habitation in February 2018.

When taken as a whole, these measures show the government’s willingness to work towards an inclusive Quebec. Our response to that vision is overwhelmingly positive

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