proposed federal accessibility legislation

Accessible Canada Act

Once approved by Parliament, the Act would add to the existing rights and protections for people with disabilities, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act and Canada’s approval of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The purpose of the bill is to make Canada barrier-free in areas under federal jurisdiction.The bill outlines how to identify and remove accessibility barriers and prevent new barriers, under federal rule, including in:

• built environments (buildings and public spaces); 
• employment (job opportunities and employment policies and practices); 
• information and communication technologies (digital content and technologies used to access it); 
• procurement of goods and services; 
• delivering programs and services; and 
• transportation (by air as well as by rail, ferry and bus carriers that operate across a provincial or international border). 

​To read the summary, click here