Peradeo Blog · Canada · Published 2026-08-27 · 9 min read
Web Accessibility Laws in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide for Businesses and Public Sector Organizations
By Vatsal Shah — Founder & CEO, IAAP WAS-Certified Accessibility Professional
There is no single "Canadian web accessibility law." Instead, Canada has a patchwork: one federal act for federally regulated industries, a growing set of provincial acts, and human rights codes that apply everywhere. This guide maps the whole landscape so you can work out which rules apply to your organization — and what standard your website actually has to meet.
The quick map
| Law | Who it covers | Web standard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessible Canada Act (federal, 2019) | Federal government, banks, telecom, airlines, interprovincial transport | CAN/ASC - EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 AA) | In force; penalties up to $250,000 |
| AODA (Ontario, 2005) | Public sector + private/non-profit orgs with 50+ employees | WCAG 2.0 AA (since Jan 1, 2021) | In force; fines up to $100,000/day |
| AMA (Manitoba, 2013) | All organizations with 1+ employees (since May 1, 2025) | WCAG 2.1 AA | In force; fines up to $250,000 |
| Accessible B.C. Act (2021) | 750+ public sector organizations (so far) | Standards in development (WCAG expected) | Plans/committees required; penalties up to $250,000 once Part 5 in force |
| Nova Scotia Accessibility Act (2017) | Public sector first; standards being phased in | Standards in development | Goal: accessible N.S. by 2030; fines up to $250,000 |
| Quebec (SGQRI 008 3.0 + Charter) | Quebec public bodies; services generally via Charter | WCAG 2.1 AA + selected 2.2 criteria (since April 2024) | In force for public bodies |
| Accessible Saskatchewan Act (2023) | Government + prescribed public sector bodies | Standards in development (WCAG expected) | Accessibility plans due Dec 2024 / Dec 2025 |
| N.L. Accessibility Act (2021) | Public bodies | Standards in development | Accessibility plans required |
| New Brunswick Accessibility Act (2024) | Public service first; entities added by regulation | Standards in development | Goal: more accessible N.B. by 2040 |
| Human rights codes (all provinces + federal) | Everyone providing services to the public | No fixed standard; WCAG used as benchmark | Complaint-driven, always available |
The federal layer
The Accessible Canada Act covers federally regulated industries and requires accessibility plans, feedback processes, and progress reports, with digital accessibility measured against CAN/ASC - EN 301 549 (incorporating WCAG 2.1 AA). If you are a bank, telecom, airline, or federal contractor, start there — our ACA guide has the details.
The provincial layer
Ontario has the oldest and most-enforced regime: WCAG 2.0 AA has been mandatory since 2021 for the public sector and organizations with 50+ employees, backed by compliance reporting and six-figure daily fines. Manitoba now has the broadest: since May 1, 2025, every organization with at least one employee must meet WCAG 2.1 AA for new web content, content needed to access goods and services, and new or significantly updated web apps. Quebec holds the most modern technical bar: SGQRI 008 3.0 requires WCAG 2.1 AA plus selected WCAG 2.2 criteria from public bodies. British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick are mid-build: committees, plans, and feedback mechanisms are mandatory for the public sector now, with enforceable standards on the way. Alberta, PEI, and the territories have no dedicated acts yet — but human rights law still reaches their websites.
The layer everyone forgets: human rights codes
Even where no accessibility statute applies, every provincial human rights code — and the Canadian Human Rights Act federally — prohibits discrimination in services available to the public. Tribunals have treated inaccessible digital services as discrimination, and these complaints can be filed against organizations of any size, in any sector, today. This is why "we're too small for AODA" is not the same as "we have no legal exposure."
What standard should you actually build to?
Target WCAG 2.1 Level AA as your floor, and test against WCAG 2.2 AA where practical:
- WCAG 2.1 AA satisfies Manitoba, the ACA/EN 301 549, and exceeds Ontario's WCAG 2.0 AA requirement;
- It matches the U.S. ADA Title II rule and the EU's European Accessibility Act — important if you sell across borders;
- WCAG 2.2 is the current W3C recommendation and the direction every regulator is heading.
A pragmatic compliance sequence
- Map your obligations: jurisdiction, sector, employee count, and where your customers are;
- Get a professional WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA audit combining automated and manual assistive-technology testing;
- Remediate in code, prioritizing the flows customers need to buy from or contact you;
- Publish an accessibility statement and feedback channel;
- Add accessibility checks to your development process, and re-audit after significant changes.
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.