"To ensure that anyone has the ability to change a baby that they're taking care of. "It would be a smart idea for the City of Calgary, as part of its accessibility review and inclusive city plan, to make sure that we've got a change table that is accessible," she said. And if they don't - Gondek believes there's nothing more powerful than a consumer speaking out about it.īut for the city's own buildings Gondek sees it a little differently. Gondek added that family-oriented businesses should be able to understand and accommodate their consumers. "I think if we are able to talk to builders or developers or business in early days it can be implemented without having to be some sort of a rigid rule." 'A smart idea' "I have some concern with the number of times we create policies or bylaws or requirements for things that make logical sense," said Gondek. Jyoti Gondek, who is the chair of the city's planning and development committee says giving parents equal access to change tables is a good idea - but she doesn't think it should be required. The Government of Alberta said in this province, municipalities have the authority to make their own bylaws around change tables.Ĭoun. In a statement, a spokesperson with the Alberta Government told CBC News both the Alberta and national building codes don't regulate change tables in public restrooms - and while they don't make them mandatory, they don't prohibit them either. We spend a lot of time going out to different places and he needs to have the same ability and access to changing facilities as I do.Īccording to the City of Calgary, it's not their jurisdiction to legislate change tables - they suggested it may be a human rights issue that the federal government would deal with. "My husband is not just my husband, he's my partner and he's also a dad and he's not a babysitter.
"It's not just an issue of safety or accessibility," she said. Not just a safety and accessibility issueĬhamanara's wife, Sarah Elder-Chamanara said it's time for Alberta to step up to the plate. The United States already had similar rules around federal buildings.Ĭhamanara said the New York Law makes sense, and he believes every parent should have equal access to public change tables in public washrooms so they can provide equal care for their children. The rule came into effect on New Year's Day.
The regulation requires all public facilities, places like restaurants, movie theatres, parks and stores to have at least one change table that's accessible - no matter the guardian's gender. It's not a new issue, but one that's been re-invigorated because of a law in New York. MLAs propose ideas to make legislature more family friendly.Townsite becomes 1st in Alberta to compost disposable diapers.