Bill C-81 (Accessible Canada Act) has been adopted

Last updated on 30 May 2019

Bill C-81 has now been adopted by the House of Commons. Once receiving Royal Assent, the Accessible Canada Act will become law.

It’s now time to work towards a barrier-free Canada.

To review, once receiving Royal Assent and becoming law, this will immediately apply all across the country, in regards to accessibility towards:

• Employment
• Built Environment
• Information / Communication Technologies
• Communication (not included in Information / Communication Technologies)
• Procurement of goods / services / facilities
• Design / delivery of programs and services
• Transportation
• Other items defined in the Bill where regulations can be applied

Will this be the answer to all issues moving forward? Of course not. The nature of this Bill requires ongoing consulting, monitoring and reporting for continued improvement. However, this is an important step moving forward towards a greater, more a barrier-free Canada.

As an advocate of Web Accessibility, I’ve already highlighted the impacts and a summarized strategy to move forward in the field of Information / Communication Technologies. As the digital platform is only one piece of this, there is much more work to do moving forward.

Let’s all continue to work together to make Canada a truly barrier-free country!

Related Links (Recent)

• Bill C-81 (Accessible Canada Act) has been adopted
• Future of Web Accessibility in Canada – Bill C-81 (Accessible Canada Act)
• Government of Canada: National AccessAbility Week – May 26 to June 1
• Parliment of Canada: Bill C-81 – Accessible Canada Act
• Federal Accessibility Legislation Alliance

Related Links (Historic)

• Federal Court of appeal’s May 30 2012 decision in Jodhan v. Canada, reaffirming the Federal Government’s constitutional duty to ensure its websites are accessible to people with disabilities.
• Blind Canadians Applaud Decision of the Federal Court of Appeal Finding That Federal Government Breached Charter Rights
• Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians – September 2011 Activities Report
• Future of Web Accessibility in Canada
• Nablopomo – Day 29 – Future of Web Accessibility in Canada – Update
• Future of Web Accessibility in Canada – Judgement Amended