Accessibility Legislation across Canada, provincially and federally, impacts libraries. To meet the legislative requirements, creating an accessible space and providing accessible services must be prioritized. In this resource, we summarize the existing and, when possible, upcoming accessibility legislation in Canada.
The Accessibility Act (Bill No. 59), passed in 2017 by the Nova Scotia Legislature, aims to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities in Nova Scotia by 2030. It mandates the prevention and removal of barriers across various domains, such as goods and services delivery, public transportation, and more.
The Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit is designed to guide libraries in meeting the accessibility plan requirements outlined in the Accessible BC Act but is also useful for any library creating or updating its accessibility plan.
The Accessible Canada Act is “An act to ensure a barrier-free Canada” (Consolidated Federal Laws of Canada, Accessible Canada Act 2019). The act’s purpose is to create an accessible Canada by 2040 by identifying, removing, and preventing accessibility barriers.
The Accessible British Columbia Act, assented on June 17, 2021, outlines accessibility requirements that organizations need to fulfill. This includes creating an accessibility committee, plan, and asking the public for feedback.
This is a digital version of Canadian legislation that applies to accessibility in public spaces. It is relatively dense and technical but should be a document any Library Director or manager has on hand.