QUEEN’S PARK — The NDP critic for Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities, Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre), made the following statement in response to the Ford government’s announcement Wednesday of a five-year e-scooter pilot program:

“People with disabilities face constant barriers to moving through our cities’ public spaces safely and accessibly. The Ford government’s e-scooter pilot program has raised serious concern among people with disabilities, who worry that e-scooters will make sidewalks more crowded, and more dangerous.

The Ford government’s e-scooter pilot consultation was extremely rushed, and it failed to seek out proper feedback from the disability community. It is telling that Ford’s announcement of the plan makes no mention whatsoever of accessibility.

The Ford Conservatives should halt their e-scooter pilot program and conduct an in-depth consultation with the disability community.”