Canada — federally regulated entities · 2019
Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA, 2019) requires federally regulated entities — federal government, banks, telecom, broadcasting, transportation — to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers, with the explicit goal of "a Canada without barriers by 2040" and detailed regulations layered on top including the ICT regulations referencing EN 301 549.
What is ACA?
The ACA mandates accessibility plans (3-year cycle), feedback mechanisms and progress reports for ~6,000 federally regulated entities. Technical ICT accessibility requirements are layered via regulations that reference EN 301 549. Provincial laws (AODA in Ontario, AMA in Manitoba, ANSA in Nova Scotia) cover provincially regulated entities.
Who does ACA apply to?
- Federal government departments
- Banks
- Telecommunications and broadcasting
- Interprovincial transport
Scope
- Federally regulated workplaces
- Federal services (incl. digital)
- Federally regulated transportation and telecom
Penalties for non-compliance
- Administrative monetary penalties up to C$250,000 per violation
How to comply with ACA
- Publish an accessibility plan. Every federally regulated entity must publish a multi-year accessibility plan, updated every three years.
- Establish a feedback mechanism. Accept and respond to accessibility complaints.
- File progress reports. Annual progress report between plans.
- Meet technical ICT requirements. Reference EN 301 549 for digital products and services.
Comparisons
- ACA vs AODA: AODA is provincial (Ontario). ACA is federal. They cover different organisations and have different reporting cycles.
- ACA vs EN 301 549: ACA ICT regulations reference EN 301 549 — bringing Canada into broad alignment with EU technical requirements.
Authoritative sources
- Accessible Canada Act — Government of Canada
A note on widgets and overlays
Can an accessibility widget make your site compliant?
No. Widgets adjust how content renders for individual visitors — text size, contrast modes, dyslexia-friendly fonts. They do not remediate the underlying source code. WCAG conformance is graded at source level, and US federal courts (Murphy v. Eyebobs, Suarez v. Camping World, Hernandez v. Caesars) have repeatedly held that the presence of an overlay does not preclude ADA liability.
Our product produces an IAAP-format audit report with source-level remediation guidance. If you want a preferences panel for end users, ship one separately — opt-in, disclosed, and never marketed as a compliance solution.
See the Overlay Fact Sheet, signed by 900+ accessibility professionals.
FAQ
ACA — frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Who has to follow the Accessible Canada Act?
Federally regulated entities: federal government departments, Crown corporations, banks, telecom and broadcasting, and interprovincial transportation. Provincially regulated entities follow provincial laws like AODA.
How often must accessibility plans be filed?
A new plan every three years, with annual progress reports in between.
Get an ACA-grade audit. In hours.
IAAP-format report. AccessivePath maps findings to ACA and every related standard simultaneously.
founders@accessivepath.com · +977 9851094056