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Advocacy & Advocacy Questions It's Gone To The Dogs

Letter to Danielle Smith Premier of Alberta

Douglas Rudolph urges Premier Danielle Smith to take immediate action against ongoing discrimination towards service and guide dog handlers in Alberta. Despite existing legislation, enforcement is lacking, complaint processes are ineffective, and discrimination is often dismissed. He calls for training for law enforcement, improved complaint handling, and stricter penalties to protect rights.

ATTN Premier Danielle Smith

CC: Christina Gray Official Leader of the Opposition

Subject: Urgent Action Required: Addressing Discrimination Against Service and Guide Dog Handlers in Alberta

Dear Premier Danielle Smith,

I am writing to you, and copying the New Democrat Party of Alberta, to address the persistent and systemic discrimination faced by service and guide dog handlers in Alberta. This issue requires immediate and decisive action.

While Alberta has three pieces of legislation intended to protect our rights—the Service Dogs Act, the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, and the Alberta Human Rights Act—these laws are demonstrably failing to provide adequate protection. The continued prevalence of discrimination indicates a significant gap between legislative intent and practical enforcement.

Specifically, I wish to highlight the following critical issues:

  • Lack of Enforcement and Training:
    • The effectiveness of these acts hinges on consistent enforcement by law enforcement. However, there is a clear lack of training and education among police officers regarding the specific provisions and enforcement procedures of these laws.
  • Inaccessible Complaint Processes:
    • The current complaint processes are opaque and often ineffective, leaving handlers feeling unheard and without recourse. This is particularly evident in the context of rideshare services, where discrimination is rampant. My personal experience has led me to discontinue using Uber and Lyft due to repeated discriminatory incidents. Even conventional taxi services pose a concern, as drivers frequently operate across multiple platforms.
    • Municipal complaint processes are also proving to be stressful and ineffective, and do not provide adequate resolution.
  • Disparity in Legal Treatment:
    • There is a stark disparity in how discriminatory acts are treated. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or gender can be classified as a hate crime, prompting immediate police response. However, discrimination against service dog handlers is often dismissed as a civil matter, resulting in inaction. This disparity is unacceptable and undermines the fundamental principle of equality.

The ongoing discrimination against service dog handlers constitutes a violation of our Charter rights to freedom of movement and equality. The provincial government’s current approach demonstrates a clear complacency and negligence in protecting the rights of disabled Albertans.

I urge you to consider the following:

  • Implement mandatory and comprehensive training for all law enforcement officers on the Service Dogs Act, the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, and related anti-discrimination legislation.
  • Establish a streamlined and accessible complaint process that ensures timely and effective resolution of discrimination cases.
  • Institute harsher penalties for individuals and businesses that violate the rights of service and guide dog handlers.
  • Review the current legislation to close loopholes that are being used to discriminate.

As a taxpayer and citizen of Alberta, I am deeply frustrated by the lack of meaningful action to address this pervasive discrimination. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have our rights protected.

I request a prompt and substantive response outlining the steps your government will take to rectify this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Douglas Rudolph

douglas.rudolph92@gmail.com

780-237-2196

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