Accessible Canada Act: Canada's Federal Accessibility Law

Author: Employment and Social Development Canada
Published: 22 Jun 2019 - Updated: 4 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This report explains the Accessible Canada Act, the country's first federal accessibility legislation, which received Royal Assent as Bill C-81 after passing the House of Commons and the Senate with unanimous support. Key facts include its reach across Parliament, Crown corporations, the federal government and federally regulated private sectors such as banking, telecommunications and transportation, along with a mandate to develop accessibility standards in priority areas like employment, the built environment and the design and delivery of programs and services. It affects roughly one in five Canadians, about 6.2 million people aged 15 and over who report a disability, and it matters because organizations under federal jurisdiction must create accessibility plans, set up feedback processes and publish regular progress reports. The material is credible because it originates from Employment and Social Development Canada and outlines the new oversight bodies created by the law, including the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization led by a board with a majority of persons with disabilities, a Chief Accessibility Officer, and an Accessibility Commissioner responsible for compliance and enforcement, giving readers, seniors and disabled people a clear account of how a barrier free Canada is meant to take shape.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The Act came into force on a date set by the Governor in Council. It applies to organizations operating under federal jurisdiction.
• 2 - Employment gaps remain wide, with about 59 percent of working age adults with disabilities employed. That compares with roughly 80 percent of those without disabilities.
• 3 - Bill C-81 was tabled in Parliament on June 20, 2018, and the Senate passed it with amendments on May 13, 2019. The House of Commons concurred with all of those amendments on May 29, 2019.
• 4 - The law grew out of what the government called the most inclusive and accessible consultations in Canadian history. More than 100 accessibility organizations and 6,000 Canadians contributed their views on what an accessible Canada should look like.

Topic Definition

Accessible Canada Act

The Accessible Canada Act is Canada's first national accessibility law, introduced as Bill C-81 and given Royal Assent in 2019, with the goal of realizing a barrier free Canada for people with disabilities. It works by proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers within areas under federal jurisdiction, including Parliament, Crown corporations, the federal government and federally regulated industries such as banking, telecommunications and transportation. The Act directs the creation of accessibility standards and regulations in priority areas like employment and the built environment, requires covered organizations to publish accessibility plans and progress reports, and establishes oversight bodies such as the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization, a Chief Accessibility Officer and an Accessibility Commissioner to guide, monitor and enforce compliance.

Overview

Canada's first federal accessibility legislation receives Royal Assent.

Every Canadian deserves the opportunity to participate fully in their community and workplace, and to have an equal chance at success. The Government of Canada developed the Accessible Canada Act to remove the barriers to inclusion persons with disabilities continue to face in society every day. Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, attended the Royal Assent Ceremony at the Senate of Canada for Bill C-81, the Government of Canada's landmark accessibility legislation.

Passed in both the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada with unanimous support from all parliamentarians, the new Accessible Canada Act will transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility across the country. It will apply to Parliament, Crown corporations, the federal government and private sector businesses under federal jurisdiction, such as banking, telecommunications and transportation.

By proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by putting in place new mechanisms to address the systems that uphold these barriers, this legislation will help create a barrier-free Canada.

Under this legislation, the Government of Canada will develop accessibility standards and regulations in priority areas such as employment, the built environment, and the design and delivery of programs and services.

Organizations under federal jurisdiction will be required to follow accessibility regulations and to develop accessibility plans describing how they will identify, remove and prevent barriers across their operations. They will also be required to establish processes for receiving and dealing with feedback about the implementation of their accessibility plan and about any barriers that a person may have encountered in dealing with the organization.

Organizations will also have to publish regular progress reports describing the implementation of their plans, feedback received, and how that feedback has been taken into consideration.

Quick Facts

• Approximately one in five Canadians, or about 6.2 million people aged 15 and over, report having a disability that limits them in their daily activities.
• Persons with disabilities face lower employment rates as approximately 59% of working-age adults with disabilities report being employed, versus 80% of those without disabilities.
• The Accessible Canada Act was developed following the most inclusive and accessible consultations with the disability community in our country's history. More than 100 accessibility organizations and 6,000 Canadians shared their views and ideas about an accessible Canada.
• Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, was tabled in Parliament on June 20, 2018, and was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 13, 2019. The House of Commons concurred with all amendments on May 29, 2019.

UPDATE: Federal Canadian Accessibility Legislation Comes Into Force, Source: Federal Canadian Accessibility Legislation Comes Into Force. Abstract: Accessible Canada Act establishes framework to create a barrier-free Canada through proactive identification, removal and prevention of accessibility barriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

How does the Accessible Canada Act differ from provincial accessibility laws

The Accessible Canada Act applies only to areas under federal jurisdiction, while provinces such as Ontario and Manitoba have their own accessibility statutes for provincially regulated sectors. Together the federal and provincial laws form a layered system, so which one applies depends on the type of organization involved.

What penalties can the Accessibility Commissioner impose for non compliance

The Accessibility Commissioner can carry out inspections, issue compliance orders and apply monetary penalties to organizations that fail to meet their obligations. The aim is to encourage genuine progress rather than simply punish, so enforcement is paired with guidance and reporting duties.

Who has to follow the Accessible Canada Act

The law covers federal government bodies, Parliament, Crown corporations and private businesses that fall under federal regulation, such as airlines, banks and telecommunications providers. Small organizations in these sectors are included, though the depth of their obligations reflects their size and operations.

What is the role of the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization

The organization, often called CASDO, develops the technical accessibility standards that can become enforceable regulations. Its board has a majority of persons with disabilities, so the standards are shaped directly by people with lived experience of barriers.

How often must organizations update their accessibility plans

Covered organizations are required to review and refresh their accessibility plans on a set cycle and to publish progress reports in between. This keeps the plans current and lets the public see how feedback is being acted upon over time.

Does the Act cover digital and online accessibility

Yes, information and communication technologies are among the priority areas the law addresses, so websites, apps and digital services fall within its scope. Standards developed under the Act help guide how federally regulated organizations make their digital content usable for everyone.

How can members of the public give feedback under the Act

Every covered organization must set up a clear process for receiving feedback about barriers and about how its accessibility plan is working. Members of the public can use these channels to report problems, and organizations must describe how that feedback was considered.

What does barrier free mean under the Accessible Canada Act

Barrier free refers to removing obstacles that stop people with disabilities from participating fully, whether those obstacles are physical, technological, attitudinal or built into policies. The Act treats barrier removal as an ongoing duty rather than a one time fix.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What sets this legislation apart is its proactive design, shifting the burden away from individuals who must file complaints after the fact and toward organizations that are required to find and dismantle barriers before people ever encounter them. The signing was led by the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, and the framework's insistence that persons with disabilities hold a majority on the standards development board signals a nothing about us without us approach rather than tokenism. For federally regulated employers and service providers in banking, transport and telecommunications this means concrete duties around published plans, feedback handling and progress reporting, while for millions of Canadians with disabilities it holds out the prospect that accessibility becomes an enforced expectation backed by a dedicated commissioner rather than a matter of goodwill.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Employment and Social Development Canada and published on 22 Jun 2019, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.