31 Jul Chickenburger: No wheelchair users need apply

Chickenburger, the iconic Halifax restaurant chain, recently opened a new outlet in a renovated building on Queen St., just off Spring Garden Road.

Despite the requirements of the NS Building Code Act, the renovations did not include wheelchair access. No one who uses a wheelchair can eat at Chickenburger. No one who uses a wheelchair can work at Chickenburger.

How can this happen in 2012? How can a community-spirited businessman like Mickey MacDonald thumb his nose at potential customers and employees who use wheelchairs?

More importantly, how did the city allow this to happen? HRM is one of the most over-regulated cities in Canada, with a planning department renowned for putting developers through tortuous hoops to get the simplest changes approved. Why did they suddenly lose their nerve when it came to enforcing legally mandated equality of access for people with disabilities?

Disability rights activist Warren Reed ask diners to pledge not to eat at Chickenburger until Mickey does the right thing by his potential customers and employees, and installs 21st-century standard wheelchair access. Sign up here.