Canadian Web Accessibility Laws: AODA and the Accessible Canada Act Explained

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Canada is a global leader in accessibility legislation. With both provincial and federal laws in effect, Canadian organizations face clear requirements to make their digital content accessible. This guide explains what you need to know about AODA and the Accessible Canada Act.

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) – Federal Law

The Accessible Canada Act, passed in 2019, is Canada’s landmark federal accessibility legislation. Its goal is ambitious: to make Canada barrier-free by 2040.

Who Does It Apply To?

• Federal government departments and agencies
• Crown corporations
• Federally regulated private sector organizations (banks, telecommunications, transportation)
• The Canadian Forces and RCMP

Key Requirements

Organizations must identify, remove, and prevent barriers in these priority areas:

• Employment
• The built environment
• Information and communication technologies (ICT)
• Procurement of goods, services, and facilities
• Transportation
• Service delivery

Penalties

Non-compliance can result in administrative monetary penalties of up to $250,000 CAD for violations. The Accessibility Commissioner can also order compliance and publicize violations.

AODA – Ontario’s Provincial Standard

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was enacted in 2005, making Ontario a pioneer in accessibility legislation.

Who Must Comply?

• All Ontario government organizations
• Private and nonprofit organizations with 1+ employees
• Requirements scale with organization size

WCAG Requirements Under AODA

The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) specifies:

• WCAG 2.0 Level A: Required since January 1, 2014
• WCAG 2.0 Level AA: Required since January 1, 2021

Enforcement

Organizations must file accessibility compliance reports. Fines can reach $100,000 per day for corporations that fail to comply.

Other Provincial Accessibility Laws

Several other Canadian provinces have enacted or are developing accessibility legislation:

• British Columbia: Accessible British Columbia Act (2021)
• Manitoba: The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (2013)
• Nova Scotia: Accessibility Act (2017)
• Quebec: Standards for public websites under provincial policy

WCAG: The Technical Standard

Both AODA and the Accessible Canada Act reference WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) as the technical standard for web accessibility. WCAG is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and provides testable criteria for making web content accessible.

The current recommended version is WCAG 2.2, though most Canadian legislation references WCAG 2.0 or 2.1 Level AA as the minimum requirement.

How to Ensure Compliance

1. Conduct an accessibility audit – Use automated tools like achecker.ca to identify WCAG violations
2. Prioritize critical issues – Focus on Level A and AA criteria first
3. Implement fixes – Address issues in your code, content, and design
4. Manual testing – Test with screen readers and keyboard navigation
5. Document your efforts – Maintain accessibility statements and compliance reports
6. Train your team – Ensure developers and content creators understand accessibility

How Canadian Laws Compare Internationally

Canadian accessibility laws are among the most comprehensive in the world:

• USA: The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) applies to websites but doesn’t specify a technical standard
• European Union: EN 301 549 and the European Accessibility Act (2025) reference WCAG 2.1 AA
• UK: Public sector bodies must meet WCAG 2.1 AA under 2018 regulations

Canada’s clear reference to WCAG standards and substantial penalties make it a leader in digital accessibility requirements.

Conclusion

Canadian accessibility laws are among the most comprehensive in the world. Whether you’re subject to the federal Accessible Canada Act or provincial laws like AODA, the path to compliance starts with understanding WCAG and taking proactive steps to remove barriers.

Ready to check your compliance? Use our free accessibility checker to identify WCAG violations and start your journey toward meeting Canadian accessibility requirements.