The New Brunswick government took another step this week in its efforts to improve accessibility in the province.

In a release Wednesday, the government announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Accessibility Standards Canada meant to “strengthen collaboration and advance accessibility standards.”

“Everyone deserves to live without barriers,” Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours said in the release. “And improving accessibility across the province is a focus for our government.”

Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) is a federal government organization responsible for developing standards, advancing accessibility research and sharing information about accessibility. It has similar agreements with Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario.

D’Amours said the province is eager to work with ASC.

“We know that their experience and knowledge will boost our ongoing efforts and give us a chance to help make accessibility the same experience for all Canadians,” the minister said.

The CEO of ASC said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger and more co-ordinated approach to accessibility.

“It also ensures that our work is grounded in the lived realities of people with disabilities,” said Dino Zuppa. “By joining forces and drawing on each other’s strengths, we can make meaningful improvements that remove barriers and, ultimately, make life more accessible for everyone.”