Projects / ECRoB
ECRoB
ECRoB is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component. ASEQ-EHAQ leads the project with national partner organizations committed to MCS inclusion.
What Is ECRoB?
ECRoB stands for Empowering Community and Removal of Barriers. It is a multi-year national initiative designed to advance the recognition and accommodation of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) as a disability across Canada.
What ECRoB Stands For
Building the awareness, capacity, and practical tools that enable people with MCS to exercise their rights, request accommodation, and participate fully in society.
Connecting organizations, educators, healthcare providers, legal advocates, and people with MCS across Canada in a shared network committed to inclusion.
Systematically identifying and dismantling the chemical, social, legal, and environmental barriers that prevent people with MCS from accessing the spaces and services they need.
The real, everyday obstacles faced by people with MCS: fragranced products in shared spaces, inaccessible healthcare and workplaces, lack of legal knowledge, and systemic discrimination.
MCS in Canada: The Evidence
People in Québec reported a diagnosis of MCS, representing 3.4% of the provincial population
Canadians nationally reported a diagnosis of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), representing 3.5%
Of people with MCS are not working — compared to 24% of the general Canadian population
More likely to report poor or fair health, and to face significant barriers to healthcare access
Of time Canadians spend indoors — where VOC exposures from products and materials are concentrated
American Medical Association adopted policy recognizing fragrance sensitivity as substantially limiting major life activities
Project Objectives
Three Core Goals
ECRoB was designed around three interconnected goals that together advance access, awareness, and inclusion for people living with MCS across Canada.
01 Raise Awareness of Legal Rights
Educate people with MCS and other disabilities across Canada about their legal rights to accommodation in workplaces, healthcare settings, and public spaces — so they can exercise those rights with confidence.
02 Build a National Educator Network
Create a group of trained educators who can deliver workshops across Canada, teaching organizations, employers, and service providers about MCS as a disability and the accommodations required for full inclusion.
03 Strengthen Cross-Sector Connections
Build bridges between legal, medical, environmental, and disability communities to collectively address accessibility barriers — including fragranced and toxic products that prevent people with MCS from accessing spaces.
ECRoB Content Areas
ECRoB’s work is organized across four interconnected pillars. Each contains original research, practical tools, Q&A resources, and video content on that dimension of MCS.
The Biological pillar covers the medical and scientific understanding of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity — how the body is affected by chemical exposures, neurological and immunological mechanisms, and the current research evidence.
- Neurological sensitization and how repeated exposure lowers symptom thresholds
- Immune system involvement and inflammatory responses to VOC exposure
- Multi-system symptoms: respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal
- Clinical screening tools: BREESI and QEESI validated instruments
- 1999 Consensus Criteria and updated diagnostic approaches
- Research findings from the Robins/Molot/Peris IJERPH study
- Connection between MCS, Long COVID, and post-viral sensitization
The Social pillar addresses how MCS affects employment, housing, family life, relationships, and participation in public life. It provides practical tools for workplaces and service providers.
- Employment barriers: 41% of people with MCS not working vs. 24% general population
- Workplace accommodation strategies for employers and HR professionals
- Hiring tradespersons: safe renovation practices for people with MCS
- Housing challenges and the critical need for low-emission options
- Impact on family life, relationships, and social participation
- Reducing stigma and misunderstanding in community settings
The Legal pillar covers the rights of people with MCS under Canadian law, how to request accommodation, province-specific rights, and the jurisprudence that supports recognition of MCS as a disability.
- MCS recognized under Canadian human rights frameworks as a disability
- Right to reasonable accommodation — what it means and how to request it
- UN CRPD Concluding Observations explicitly reference MCS and Canada
- Province-specific rights and how to file complaints in each jurisdiction
- CNESST jurisprudence: cases from 2012 and 2013–2017
- Model accommodation request letter and exposure/symptom journal
The Fragrance-Free Research Hub contains 10 published resources on scent-free policy design, the health impacts of fragranced products, and practical guides for creating accessible environments.
- Why fragrance-free environments are essential for MCS accessibility
- How to design, implement, and monitor scent-free policies
- Health impacts of air fresheners: a public health concern
- Facts vs. myths: laundry products and their health impacts
- Canadian database of scent-free policies (2023)
- Guidance for inclusive laundry facilities in shared buildings
- Video series: Hidden Face of Perfume, Being Fragrance-Free
Social Impacts & Inclusion
Rights, Accommodation & the Law
Fragrance-Free Research Hub
Three Research & Outreach Strategies
Measuring Knowledge & Awareness of MCS
National surveys and questionnaires were distributed to measure existing awareness of MCS among the general public, healthcare providers, and employers — establishing a baseline and identifying the most critical education gaps across Canada.
Developing a Practical Guide for Inclusion & Accommodation
A plain-language, accessible guide was developed for employers, service providers, educators, and individuals — providing step-by-step guidance on how to accommodate people with MCS in workplaces, institutions, and public settings.
Public Awareness & National Outreach
Research findings, resources, and accommodation tools were disseminated through workshops, newsletters, social media, partner networks, and the ECRoB website — reaching Canadians in every province and territory.
Fragrance-Free Research Hub
10 Published Resources on Going Fragrance-Free
Fragranced products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can trigger debilitating symptoms in people with MCS. The Fragrance-Free Research Hub provides 10 freely downloadable resources for organizations, individuals, and policymakers on creating scent-free, accessible environments.
Fragrance-free practices are not a preference — they are an accessibility and disability rights issue. For people with MCS, they are often the difference between being able to access a space or not.
The Importance of Being Scent/Fragrance-Free
Why fragrance-free matters for inclusion and accessibility — the case for scent-free practices in every shared environment.
Read Resource →Fragrance-Free for People with Disabilities
Fact sheet demonstrating how fragrance-free environments benefit people with MCS, asthma, COPD, autism, migraines, and other conditions.
Read Resource →How to Be Scent/Fragrance-Free
Practical tip sheet for individuals and organizations on making healthy product choices and educating others about fragrance-free practices.
Read Resource →Design, Implement & Monitor Scent-Free Policies
Step-by-step guide for workplaces on creating and enforcing fragrance-free policies to accommodate people with MCS and other disabilities.
Read Resource →Scent/Fragrance-Free Educational Poster
Downloadable thank-you notice for establishments implementing fragrance-free policies — signals an inclusive, accessible environment.
Read Resource →Inclusive Laundry Facility Notice
Educational notice for shared laundry facility users requesting fragrance-free, least-toxic products to protect people with MCS and respiratory conditions.
Read Resource →Database of Scent-Free Policies in Canada (2023)
A national database of diverse establishments — workplaces, healthcare settings, schools, and others — that have implemented scent-free policies.
View Database →Q&A: Being Scent/Fragrance-Free
Common questions and answers covering what fragrance-free means, why it matters, and how individuals and organizations can make the transition.
Read Resource →Health Impacts of Air Fresheners: A Public Health Concern
Factsheet on the serious health impacts of air fresheners, including chemicals linked to asthma, hormonal disruption, and cancer. Includes guidance on safer alternatives.
↓ Download PDF →Facts vs. Myths: Laundry Products & Their Impacts
Educational factsheet separating myths from facts on the health and environmental impacts of fragranced laundry products. Includes guidance on choosing safer alternatives.
↓ Download PDF →Videos
Fragrance-Free Video Resources
Two videos accompany the Fragrance-Free Research Hub: The Hidden Face of Perfume and Designing, Implementing & Monitoring Scent-Free Policies. See the Video section below.
ECRoB Video Series
ECRoB Project Reports
Full Report
Accessible Canada Partnerships Report
Complete overview of ECRoB initiative outcomes, partnership engagement, and project findings submitted under the Accessible Canada framework (December 2023).
Annex 0–3
Report Outline
Structural outline including research questions, methodology, and the findings framework used across the ECRoB project.
Annex 4–7
Surveys, Questionnaires & Polls Report
National survey data measuring awareness and knowledge of MCS among the general public, healthcare professionals, and employers across Canada.
Annex 8–11
Newsletter Report
Findings from ECRoB newsletter outreach: readership data, engagement metrics, and the impact of awareness communications distributed nationally.
Downloads
ECRoB Toolkit & Downloads
Every ECRoB resource is freely available. These tools were designed for individuals with MCS, employers, healthcare providers, educators, legal professionals, and anyone working toward more accessible environments.
All resources free
Every ECRoB resource is freely available to download, share, and use for non-commercial education and advocacy purposes.
ECRoB Pamphlet
Overview of ECRoB initiative for outreach, distribution, and awareness events
↓ Download PDFUnderstanding MCS Infographic
Visual one-page overview of MCS — ideal for sharing with employers, colleagues, and healthcare providers
↓ Download PDFMCS Resources Reference
Comprehensive reference document on MCS supports, research, and resources across Canada
↓ Download PDFModel Accommodation Letter
Template letter for requesting reasonable accommodation at work, healthcare, school, or in public services
↓ Download PDFRight to Reasonable Accommodation
Plain-language guide to accommodation rights for people with MCS under Canadian law
↓ Download PDFExposure & Symptom Journal
Tracking tool for documenting chemical exposures and symptom patterns — essential for accommodation requests
↓ Download PDFCNESST Jurisprudence (to 2012)
Legal cases supporting MCS accommodation under Québec workplace safety law through 2012
↓ Download PDFCNESST Jurisprudence (2013–2017)
Legal cases supporting MCS accommodation under Québec workplace safety law, 2013–2017
↓ Download PDFRecognition
Growing
Recognition
for MCS
ECRoB's work takes place in the context of expanding international and national recognition of MCS as a serious disability.
AMA Policy H-135.902 (2025)
The American Medical Association adopted policy recognizing fragrance sensitivity as a condition that can substantially limit major life activities, supporting fragrance-free environments and accommodation.
UN CRPD Concluding Observations
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities explicitly referenced Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in its Concluding Observations to Canada, affirming equal access, accommodation, and non-discrimination.
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian human rights frameworks affirm the right to reasonable accommodation for people with MCS as a recognized disability in all workplaces and public services governed by federal or provincial human rights codes.
Government of Canada Funding
ECRoB is funded through the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program — Disability Component, affirming federal recognition of MCS accessibility barriers.
IJERPH Study (Robins/Molot/Peris)
Peer-reviewed research in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health documents MCS prevalence, mechanisms, and impacts on daily life in Canada.
Statistics Canada CCHS 2020
National data confirm 1.13 million Canadians (3.5%) report MCS, with 41% unemployment rates and 3× higher rates of poor self-rated health compared to the general population.
ECRoB Partner Organizations
