Work to begin soon on legislature’s first gender-neutral washroom

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This article was published 25/08/2016 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Work will soon begin on installing a single-person gender-neutral washroom in the Manitoba legislature building, Premier Brian Pallister said Friday.

And it may not be the only one introduced into government buildings.

Pallister said he decided to act after receiving a request during his appearance at Winnipeg’s Pride parade earlier this summer.

He did not identify the location in the legislature, but said the government is taking advantage of planned renovations to make washroom facilities more accessible.

In a statement, he said the province is committed to building an inclusive and respective environment across government.

“Our government has undertaken a cross-jurisdictional review of best practices for the provision of safe and equitable access to washroom facilities in government buildings…,” the statement said.

“In line with our government’s commitment to value for money, we have identified an opportunity to broaden the scope of an existing project that was being undertaken to make washroom facilities accessible.”

Pride Winnipeg applauded the news Friday.

“It’s good to hear,” said president Jonathan Niemczak. “We’re obviously very much in favour of it. I can’t see why anyone would have an issue with gender-neutral washrooms.”

Mechanical changes, renovations and additions can be very costly in older buildings, particularly historic ones, an aide to Pallister said.

The renovation work and addition of the gender-neutral washroom will take all that into consideration, as well as ensuring the environment is appropriate and sensitive to the needs of those who will wish to use it.

The legislature building has large and separate men’s and women’s washrooms on the third floor and the basement. There are additional smaller facilities in the basement near the cafeteria, and there are small washrooms in the second-floor lounge open to the public.

The NDP said Friday it’s a good first step that needs to be extended to all government buildings.

“We’re pleased the Pallister government has agreed with us that gender-neutral washrooms are needed,” said communications director Rachel Morgan. “We hope the premier will commit to installing them in a timely way in all government buildings as we requested in the petition we tabled in the house during the last session.”

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca