The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service requires all of us to put the customer first.
“Customer” means anyone who benefits from an organization’s goods or services, including non-paying learners, patients, organizational members and participants. The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service requires organizations to provide flexible customer-centred service by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers.
If a barrier cannot be removed, the organization should provide alternative options, up to the point of undue hardship.
Since November 2018, this regulation applies to all Manitoba organizations that have one or more employees, including businesses, such as shops, restaurants and hotels, legal, healthcare, and other professional services. Non-profit organizations, including charities, unions, places of worship, and member associations must also comply with this law.
The Manitoba government had to comply by November 2016 and public sector organizations – such as universities, colleges, health authorities, Crown corporations, large municipalities and school divisions had until November 2017 to comply.