The rights of a person accompanied by a guide dog in Ontario is governed by the Blind Persons’ Rights Act. We offer a summary of the key rights of access below and refer you to the entire Act via the link provided for additional detail.
Although the Blind Persons’ Rights Act provides the majority of access rights for persons accompanied by a certified guide dog in Ontario, you may wish to review the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act where you will find additional accessibility rights.
Summary of the Ontario Blind Persons Rights Act
In this Act:
a) blind person” means a person who because of blindness is dependent on a guide dog or white cane; and
b) guide dog” means a dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications prescribed by the regulations.
No person, directly or indirectly, alone or with another, by himself, herself or itself 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 or she is a blind person accompanied by a guide dog.
No person, directly or indirectly, alone or with another, by himself, herself or itself 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 or she is a blind person keeping or customarily accompanied by a guide dog.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle a blind person to require any service, facility or accommodation in respect of a guide dog other than the right to be accompanied by the guide dog.
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.
The Attorney General or an officer of his or her Ministry designated by the Attorney General in writing may, upon application therefor, issue to a blind person an identification card identifying the blind person and his or her guide dog.
An identification card issued under subsection (1) is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the blind person and the guide dog identified therein are qualified for the purposes of this Act.
Any person to whom an identification card is issued under subsection (1) shall, upon the request of the Attorney General or an officer designated under subsection (1), surrender the identification card for amendment or cancellation.
Penalty
Every person who is in contravention of section 2 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Every person who is in contravention of section 3 or of subsection 4(3) or who, not being a blind person, purports to be a blind person for the purpose of claiming the benefit of this Act is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $500.