Like many other buildings of the time, the Parliament Buildings were not originally constructed with barrier-free accessibility in mind. However, the Legislative Assembly is committed to improving accessibility in the Parliament Buildings for all British Columbians.
Since the renovations of 1973 to 1984, a steady amount of interior and exterior work continues be undertaken that ensures all MLAs, British Columbians, and visitors have access to the Parliament Buildings and the Legislative Precinct. This includes the opening of the barrier‐free Mowat Entrance at the front of the main entrance of the Parliament Buildings in March of 2013.
Improvements inside the Parliament Buildings include a barrier-free ramp connecting the Legislative Library with the Speaker's Corridor, washroom upgrades, automatic door openers and keycard locks, and accessible emergency exits.
Outside the Parliament Buildings, ramps have been constructed to provide better access to the Premier's Rose Garden and Centennial Fountain, and there have been expansions to the amount of accessible parking available and an increase in accessible signage throughout the precinct.
In 2019, several new additions were made. Barrier-free ramps were installed on the east and west sides of the front lawns to ensure greater accessibility between the lawns and the front of the Parliament Buildings. At the same time, the driveway along the front lawns was upgraded with a new slope to minimize the risk of tripping.
For additional information on accessibility in the Parliament Buildings, visit the Legislative Assembly website.
