Peradeo Blog · Canada · Published 2026-08-28 · 6 min read
Nova Scotia's Accessibility Act: What It Means for Websites on the Road to an Accessible 2030
By Vatsal Shah — Founder & CEO, IAAP WAS-Certified Accessibility Professional
Nova Scotia became the third Canadian province with accessibility legislation — and the first in Atlantic Canada — when its Accessibility Act received Royal Assent in 2017. The Act declares the goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030 and, unlike some newer provincial laws, includes real teeth: fines of up to $250,000 for contraventions once standards are in force.
How the Act works
The Act follows the now-familiar Canadian model:
- An Accessibility Directorate administers the law and supports implementation;
- Standards are developed in six areas, including information and communication — the category that covers websites, web applications, and digital documents;
- Public sector bodies — the provincial government, municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards, and prescribed organizations — must prepare accessibility plans, updated every three years, in consultation with persons with disabilities;
- Compliance and enforcement powers include inspections, compliance orders, and monetary penalties up to $250,000.
Where the digital standard stands
Nova Scotia has been phasing in standards (the built environment and education came first), with information and communication standards in development. Government bodies already work to WCAG-based internal web standards, and the 2030 goal means the window for enforceable digital requirements is closing fast. As everywhere else in Canada, WCAG AA is the expected technical benchmark — Ontario requires WCAG 2.0 AA, Manitoba WCAG 2.1 AA, and the federal government EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 AA).
Legal exposure that already exists
Even before the digital standard lands, Nova Scotia organizations carry obligations:
- The Nova Scotia Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in services — inaccessible websites and online services can ground complaints today;
- Public sector bodies must publish and maintain accessibility plans, and plans that ignore digital barriers invite public feedback and Directorate scrutiny;
- Federally regulated employers in the province (banks, telecoms, ports, airlines) already answer to the Accessible Canada Act;
- Businesses selling into the U.S. or EU face the ADA and the European Accessibility Act regardless of local law.
Practical steps
- Public sector bodies: make digital accessibility a named commitment in your accessibility plan, with dates and owners;
- Everyone: audit against WCAG 2.1 AA now rather than retrofitting when the standard is enacted;
- Prioritize service-critical journeys — forms, payments, bookings, and documents the public needs;
- Publish an accessibility statement with a feedback channel, and train content teams so new pages stay accessible.
For the national picture, see our complete guide to web accessibility laws in Canada.
How Peradeo can help
Peradeo is a web accessibility company based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Our IAAP-certified specialists audit websites and web applications against WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 AA using real assistive technologies (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver), remediate the issues hands-on as developers, and prepare the compliance documentation — including VPAT® / Accessibility Conformance Reports and accessibility statements — that regulators and procurement teams ask for.
- Learn more about our web accessibility audit & remediation services
- Request a free accessibility check of your website
This article is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. Requirements change over time — consult a qualified lawyer for advice about your specific obligations.