New Brunswick, Canada

http://www.canlii.org/nb/laws/sta/h-11/20040618/whole.html

The Human Rights Act of New Brunswick, 1976, amended and consolidated in 1985, Chapter H11, broadly addresses discrimination. Within this chapter, the definition of physical disability includes blind, deaf or hearing impaired, and disabled.

“physical disability” means any degree of disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement of a physical nature caused by bodily injury, illness or birth defect and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes any disability resulting from any degree of paralysis or from diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or on a wheelchair, cane, crutch or other remedial device or

appliance.

The intent of this law is best found in the opening paragraphs:

WHEREAS recognition of the fundamental principle that all persons are equal in dignity and human rights without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, place of origin, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation or sex, is a governing principle sanctioned by the laws of New Brunswick; and

WHEREAS ignorance, forgetfulness, or contempt of the rights of others are often the causes of public miseries and social disadvantage; and

WHEREAS people and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law; and

WHEREAS it is recognized that human rights must be guaranteed by the rule of law, and that these principles have been confirmed in New Brunswick by a number of enactments of this Legislature; and

WHEREAS it is desirable to enact a measure to codify and extend such enactments and to simplify their administration.