Peradeo Blog · Canada · Published 2026-08-28 · 6 min read
Web Accessibility in Quebec: How SGQRI 008 3.0 Brings WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 to the Public Sector
By Vatsal Shah — Founder & CEO, IAAP WAS-Certified Accessibility Professional
Quebec has regulated government web accessibility longer than almost anywhere in Canada — and its current standard is one of the most modern in the country. The Standard sur l'accessibilité des sites Web (SGQRI 008 3.0) came into force on April 29, 2024, and it goes beyond most Canadian laws by incorporating criteria from WCAG 2.2.
A quick history
- 2011 — SGQRI 008 1.0: Quebec's first web accessibility standard, created because no official French translation of WCAG 2.0 existed;
- 2018 — SGQRI 008 2.0: aligned with WCAG 2.0 AA (with some adjustments);
- 2024 — SGQRI 008 3.0: requires WCAG 2.1 conformance plus selected WCAG 2.2 criteria (translated in the standard's annex), applying to new content and redesigns from April 29, 2024; earlier content remains subject to version 2.0.
The standard flows from Quebec's 1978 Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights, and it is administered by the Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique.
Who must comply
SGQRI 008 3.0 applies to public bodies covered by Quebec's IT governance law (chapter G-1.03), including:
- Government departments and agencies;
- CEGEPs, universities, and school service centres;
- Health and social services network organizations (hospitals, CISSS, CLSC);
- Government enterprises and bodies under the Financial Administration Act.
The scope is broad in practice: public websites, extranets, intranets, transactional services, downloadable documents (PDF, Word, Excel), and video/audio content are all covered. Deputy ministers and agency heads are personally responsible for ensuring conformance, audits, and a published accessibility page.
What about Quebec businesses?
Quebec has no private-sector web accessibility statute yet, but exposure exists on three fronts: the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms prohibits discrimination in publicly available services; contracts and grants from public bodies increasingly require SGQRI/WCAG conformance from suppliers; and businesses serving customers in Ontario, Manitoba, the U.S., or the EU inherit those obligations too. French-language obligations under Bill 96 also intersect: accessible French content needs the same semantic care as English.
Practical steps
- Public bodies: audit new and redesigned content against SGQRI 008 3.0 (WCAG 2.1 AA + the annexed 2.2 criteria), keep the accessibility page current, and bake conformance checks into publication workflows;
- Suppliers to the Quebec government: expect SGQRI conformance clauses — get an audit and ACR/VPAT ready;
- Businesses: target WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA to cover Quebec plus every other market you serve;
- Test in French with real assistive technologies — screen reader behaviour differs between French and English content.
See how Quebec fits into the national landscape in 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.