What Are Canada's Federal ICT Accessibility Standards and How Might They Affect the AODA?

Updated

Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) has adopted European accessibility standards for information and communication technology (ICT), and the third review of the AODA recommends that future Ontario standards align with these and other Canadian laws. That means federal ICT accessibility requirements could eventually be folded into the AODA — but as of now, this is a recommendation under review, not an active AODA requirement. If you are asking because you need to know what rules currently apply to your organization, the short answer is: follow the existing AODA standards, and watch the alignment process rather than treating the federal standards as binding Ontario law.

Why federal and provincial accessibility laws are converging

Canada does not have a single accessibility law. Several provinces — Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Newfoundland — have their own laws mandating provincial accessibility standards. Separately, the Accessible Canada Act sets standards for organizations under federal jurisdiction.

The federal government has signalled that it intends to coordinate federal and provincial accessibility laws. The third review of the AODA recommends that Ontario support this goal by aligning the AODA with the laws of other provinces and with federal law. If governments succeed in making these laws more similar, the AODA standards development process may change to match standards used elsewhere in the country.

What the federal ICT standards cover

The federal standards relevant here are the European ICT accessibility standards adopted by Accessibility Standards Canada. The topics addressed in this area include:

  • Information and technology — accessibility standards for ICT products and services
  • Relay services and emergency services — accessible communication channels, including relay and emergency access
  • Documentation — accessible documentation practices
  • Software — accessibility requirements for software
  • Webpages and documents — accessible web content and documents

These are the areas where future AODA standards could potentially incorporate some or all of the federal guidelines and requirements.

How this connects to existing AODA requirements

The AODA already has requirements for web accessibility and for the procurement of self-service kiosks. The alignment discussion is about extending or reshaping Ontario's rules so they resemble federal and other provincial standards, particularly for ICT.

Area Current AODA position Possible future direction
Web accessibility Requirements already exist May align with federal/European ICT standards
Self-service kiosks Procurement requirements exist May align with federal/European ICT standards
Relay and emergency services Not framed as federal ICT standards Could be added if alignment proceeds
Software and documentation Not framed as federal ICT standards Could be added if alignment proceeds

What this means for you right now

  • Do not treat the federal ICT standards as current AODA obligations. They are the subject of review recommendations and possible future alignment.
  • Keep complying with the AODA standards that are in force, including web accessibility and self-service kiosk procurement requirements.
  • Monitor the alignment process. If Ontario acts on the third review's recommendation, the AODA standards development process may change, and some or all of the federal ICT guidelines could become part of Ontario's requirements.
  • If you operate in multiple provinces or under federal jurisdiction, alignment is relevant to you because it may reduce the number of different standards you need to satisfy over time.

The practical takeaway: the federal ICT standards are a signal of where Ontario accessibility law may be heading, not a substitute for the AODA rules that apply today.