What Is the Accessible Canada Act?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA), also known as Bill C-81, received Royal Assent in June 2019 and came into force in stages through 2019 and 2020. Its stated purpose is to achieve a barrier-free Canada by January 1, 2040. It is the first piece of national accessibility legislation to apply across multiple sectors of the Canadian economy.
The ACA applies to federal government departments and agencies, Parliament, Crown corporations, and federally regulated private sector organisations. The latter category includes banks, broadcasting companies, telecommunications providers, and federally licensed transportation companies. It does not apply to provincial or territorial government entities, which are subject to their own legislation (such as AODA in Ontario).
What Does the ACA Require for Websites?
The ACA requires covered organisations to develop, publish, and implement accessibility plans, establish feedback processes, and progressively remove barriers to accessibility. For web content, the relevant standard is WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which is referenced in the ACA’s associated regulations.
Federal public sector organisations are required to implement accessibility standards developed by Accessibility Standards Canada, the new agency created under the ACA. These standards are aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA for web content and continue to be developed for other areas including built environments, employment, and technology.
Does the ACA Apply to Non-Profits?
The ACA directly regulates federally regulated organisations. However, Canadian non-profits interact with the ACA in several important ways:
Non-profits receiving federal government grants or contracts are increasingly expected to demonstrate accessibility compliance as a condition of funding. Many federal funding agencies now require WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for any digital deliverable funded through a federal grant.
Non-profits that are themselves federally regulated — for example, national associations operating as federally incorporated entities under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and engaging in federally regulated activities — may have direct obligations under the ACA.
Non-profits operating in multiple provinces and delivering digital services nationally are also encouraged to comply with the ACA standard as a national best practice, even where not legally required.
ACA vs AODA: Understanding the Difference
AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) applies to Ontario organisations with 50 or more employees and requires WCAG 2.0 AA compliance. The ACA applies to federally regulated entities across all provinces and requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Both laws address web accessibility, but their scope and compliance timelines differ.
For organisations operating in Ontario and receiving federal funding, both may apply simultaneously. Building to WCAG 2.1 AA satisfies both standards — it exceeds AODA’s WCAG 2.0 requirement while meeting the ACA’s WCAG 2.1 requirement.
Working With Pragmatica on ACA Compliance
Pragmatica builds WCAG 2.1 AA compliant websites for Canadian non-profits, healthcare providers, and public sector organisations. We provide accessibility audits, remediation services, and documentation to support compliance reporting under the ACA and AODA. Learn more about our accessibility services.
