Blind Persons' Rights Act

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Blind Persons' Rights Act. R.S., c. 40, s. 1.

Interpretation

2 In this Act,

(a) "blind person" means a person who

(i) is registered as blind with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind,

(ii) having been in receipt of a pension on account of blindness under Chapter 12 of the Acts of 1952, the Blind Persons' Allowances Act, or Chapter 23 of the Revised Statutes, 1954, the Blind Persons' Allowances Act, is in receipt of a pension under the Old Age Security Act (Canada) and is still blind within the meaning of said Blind Persons' Allowances Act and regulations made thereunder, or

(iii) is blind within the meaning of any other Act of the Legislature or any regulations made under any such Act;

(b) "dog guide" means a dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications prescribed by the regulations. R.S., c. 40, s. 2.

Application of Act

3 (1) This Act applies notwithstanding any other enactment.

(2) This Act is binding on His Majesty in right of the Province. R.S., c. 40, s. 3.

Discrimination

4 (1) No person, directly or indirectly, alone or with another, by himself or by the interposition of another, shall

(a) deny to any person the accommodation, services or facilities available in any place to which the public is customarily admitted; or

(b) discriminate against any person with respect to the accommodation, services or facilities available in any place to which the public is customarily admitted or the charges for the use thereof,

for the reason that he is a blind person accompanied by a dog guide.

(2) No person, directly or indirectly, alone or with another, by himself or by the interposition of another, shall

(a) deny to any person occupancy of any self-contained dwelling unit; or

(b) discriminate against any person with respect to any term or condition of occupancy of any self-contained dwelling unit,

for the reason that he is a blind person keeping or customarily accompanied by a dog guide.

(3) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to entitle a blind person to require any service, facility or accommodation in respect of a dog guide other than the right to be accompanied by the dog guide. R.S., c. 40, s. 4.

Prohibited use of white cane

5 No person, other than a blind person, shall carry or use a cane or walking stick, the major part of which is white, in any public place, public thoroughfare or public conveyance. R.S., c. 40, s. 5.

Regulations

6 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing qualifications for dog guides.

(2) Regulations made pursuant to subsection (1) shall be regulations within the meaning of the Regulations Act. R.S., c. 40, s. 6.

Offence

7 Every person who, not being a blind person, purports to be a blind person for the purposes of obtaining or attempting to obtain the benefit of this Act is guilty of an offence. R.S., c. 40, s. 7.

Penalty

8 Every person who violates this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $3,000. R.S., c. 40, s. 8; 2016, c. 4, s. 20.