Digital Accessibility Laws in Canada: Your Complete Guide for 2025

Digital accessibility has become a legal requirement across Canada, with federal and provincial governments implementing comprehensive legislation that mandates WCAG compliance for websites, mobile applications, and digital content. The Accessible Canada Act aims to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040, establishing ambitious timelines that make understanding these requirements essential for organizations across the country. 

As we move through 2025, these digital accessibility requirements aren’t just about legal compliance–they’re about ensuring equal access to digital services for the 6.2 million Canadians living with disabilities and contributing to Canada’s vision of complete accessibility.

Whether you’re managing a federal government website, running an Ontario business, or operating across multiple provinces, this guide will help you navigate Canada’s complex digital accessibility landscape and ensure your organization meets all applicable WCAG standards and regulatory requirements.

Understanding Canada's Digital Accessibility Foundation

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as the technical foundation for digital accessibility compliance across Canada. The latest version, WCAG 2.2, builds upon previous iterations by introducing nine new success criteria, primarily focused on ease of interaction (e.g., drag-and-drop), consistent help, and accessible authentication for users with cognitive or motor disabilities.

WCAG is organized around four fundamental principles that ensure digital content is accessible to all users:

  • Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways all users can perceive, including alternative text for images, captions for videos, and sufficient color contrast 
  • Operable: User interface components must be navigable by keyboard, provide adequate time limits, and avoid content that causes seizures 
  • Understandable: Information and UI operation must be readable, predictable, and include input assistance when needed
  • Robust: Content must work reliably across different assistive technologies and remain accessible as technologies advance


Most Canadian legislation requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the minimum standard, though some jurisdictions are beginning to reference WCAG 2.2 or specific enhanced requirements.

Federal Digital Accessibility Requirements

The Accessible Canada Act establishes comprehensive digital accessibility requirements for federally regulated organizations. As of May 31, 2024, federal entities must comply with EN 301 549, a European standard that incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements while adding specific provisions for non-web software and mobile applications. While regulated entities must be compliant, the application of this standard is progressive. It is managed through the Accessible Canada Regulations, as well as specific regulations from the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) and the CRTC.

These requirements apply to Government of Canada websites and web applications, mobile applications developed by or for federal departments, intranet systems and employee-facing digital tools, digital documents and multimedia content, electronic kiosks and digital signage, as well as federally regulated private sector organizations, including banks, telecommunications companies, and transportation providers.

Federal Compliance Timelines

  • Federal government entities (all sizes): Initial deadline December 31, 2022
  • Large organizations (100+ employees): Compliance required since June 1, 2023
  • Medium organizations (10-99 employees): First accessibility plans due June 1, 2024
  • Small organizations (fewer than 10 employees): No formal accessibility plan requirements


Organizations that fail to comply with federal requirements face significant penalties. The Accessibility Commissioner can issue administrative monetary penalties up to $250,000 per violation, with progressive penalty structures that escalate for repeat offenders.

Provincial Digital Accessibility Landscape

Quebec: A Unique Approach

Quebec takes a distinctive approach to digital accessibility, operating under its own framework that differs significantly from other Canadian provinces. Quebec was the first province to pass accessibility legislation in 1978, establishing the “Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration.”

Quebec has a specific standard framework for websites and electronic documents, which requires the application of the web accessibility standard set by the Conseil du Trésor du Québec (based on WCAG 2.0 AA, with a transition to newer standards). Their approach is primarily implemented and detailed through specific government policies and standards, as opposed to the provincial framework acts of other provinces that have integrated WCAG standards into their regulations.

Quebec’s digital accessibility framework includes:

  • WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance is the minimum requirement for government websites and digital services 
  • All PDF documents uploaded to the web must be accessible with descriptive titles and section headings
  • Video content must include subtitles for pre-recorded content or Québec sign language interpretation
  • The Office des personnes handicapées du Québec (OPHQ) provides enforcement and guidance 
  • Requirements primarily apply to public sector organizations
  • Private sector obligations addressed through human rights legislation


Quebec’s approach differs from that of other provinces in being policy-based rather than legislative, with specific accommodations made for Quebec Sign Language and French language considerations to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements.

Ontario: The AODA Standard

Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) includes the most comprehensive provincial digital accessibility requirements in Canada. The Information and Communications Standard creates different obligations for public and private sector organizations.

Public sector organizations must ensure their websites and web content conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Private sector organizations with 50 or more employees must make their websites conform to WCAG 2.0 Level A as of January 2014, achieve Level AA compliance by January 2021, and provide accessible formats and communication supports upon request.

Key AODA digital requirements include:

  • All new websites and web content must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards
  • Documents posted after January 2012 must be accessible or available in accessible formats 
  • Multimedia content must include closed captioning and audio descriptions
  • Individual violations can result in fines up to $50,000 per day
  • Corporate penalties can reach $100,000 per day until violations are resolved

British Columbia: Accessible BC Act

British Columbia’s Accessible BC Act focuses on organizational accountability rather than prescriptive technical standards. Organizations must develop accessibility plans that address digital barriers, establish feedback mechanisms for accessibility concerns, and include accessibility committees that review digital accessibility barriers.

Manitoba: Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA)

Manitoba’s Accessibility for Manitobans Act mandates accessibility standards for information and communication, with a particular focus on website accessibility and digital document formats. 

Saskatchewan: Accessible Saskatchewan Act

Saskatchewan’s Accessible Saskatchewan Act includes provisions for the development of digital accessibility standards, with implementation expected in phases through 2025-2026. 

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is developing comprehensive digital accessibility standards with a goal of full accessibility by 2030, including WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance for provincial government websites.

New Brunswick and Newfoundland

Both New Brunswick and Newfoundland have enacted accessibility legislation with digital accessibility components, though specific technical requirements are still being developed through regulatory processes.

Essential WCAG Compliance Requirements

Meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements involves ensuring your digital content meets specific technical standards across all four foundational principles. For perceivable content, you must provide descriptive alternative text for images, closed captions, and transcripts for video content, maintain color contrast ratios of 4.5:1 for standard text and 3:1 for large text, and ensure content is adaptable to different presentations without losing meaning.

Key Technical Requirements

  • Images and Media: All images need descriptive alt text, videos require captions and audio descriptions, and audio content must have visual alternatives
  • Color and Contrast: Sufficient contrast ratios must be maintained, and information cannot be conveyed by color alone
  • Navigation: All functionality must be accessible via keyboard, with visible focus indicators and logical tab order
  • Content Structure: Use proper heading hierarchy, semantic HTML elements, and clear form labels
  • Time and Motion: Users must be able to control time-limited content and pause auto-playing media


For mobile applications, accessibility requirements include touch target sizes of at least 44×44 CSS pixels, support for device orientation changes, compatibility with screen readers and voice control, and alternative input methods for complex gestures.

Document and Multimedia Accessibility

Digital document accessibility ensures PDFs include proper heading structure and reading order, alternative text for images and graphics, form fields with accessible labels, and keyboard navigation support. Microsoft Office documents must use accessible templates and styles, include descriptive hyperlink text, maintain proper table headers and structure, and follow logical reading order.

Multimedia accessibility requirements include:

  • Captions for all video content (both pre-recorded and live when feasible)
  • Audio descriptions for visual information in videos
  • Transcripts for audio-only content
  • Keyboard-accessible media players with clear controls
  • Alternative formats for complex audio or visual information


These requirements apply across federal and provincial jurisdictions, though specific implementation timelines may vary.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Different industries face unique digital accessibility challenges and requirements. Financial services under federal regulation must ensure online banking platforms meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, while mobile banking apps must comply with EN 301 549 requirements. Healthcare organizations need accessible patient portals, telemedicine platforms that are compatible with assistive technologies, and appointment booking systems that are also accessible.

Educational institutions must provide learning management system accessibility, ensure digital library and research databases are accessible, meet WCAG standards for online course content, and maintain accessible student information systems and registration platforms.

Building Effective Compliance Strategies

Successful digital accessibility compliance requires combining automated testing tools with comprehensive manual testing. Popular automated tools include the axe-core accessibility testing engine, WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool, and Lighthouse accessibility audits. However, manual testing remains essential for testing keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and form functionality.

Development Best Practices

  • Semantic HTML: Use proper heading hierarchy (h1, h2, h3), implement ARIA labels appropriately, and structure content with semantic elements
  • CSS Accessibility: Maintain sufficient color contrast, ensure visible focus indicators, and design responsive layouts that work with screen magnification
  • JavaScript Considerations: Manage focus for dynamic content, provide accessible names for interactive elements, and handle keyboard events appropriately


Content creation should focus on using plain language and clear structure, providing context for links and buttons, breaking up long content with headings and lists, and including alternative descriptions for complex information.

The Strategic Value of Digital Accessibility

Canada’s disability market represents significant economic potential, with 6.2 million Canadians having one or more disabilities and a combined spending power exceeding $55 billion annually. Accessible design benefits approximately 15% of the global population, while mobile accessibility improvements benefit all users in various contexts, including bright sunlight, noisy environments, and temporary impairments.

Beyond market opportunity, digital accessibility offers legal risk reduction through proactive compliance, which minimizes penalty exposure and discrimination complaints. Technical benefits include improved search engine optimization through semantic HTML and descriptive alt text, faster loading times, clean code, and an enhanced overall user experience.

Building Sustainable Programs

Organizations should embed accessibility considerations into their procurement processes, include accessibility requirements in vendor contracts, establish accessibility checkpoints in development workflows, and designate accessibility champions within various departments. Regular accessibility testing, user feedback integration from people with disabilities, and staying current with evolving standards ensure long-term compliance success.

Future Considerations and Professional Support

The W3C is developing WCAG 3.0, which will introduce new testing methods and expand coverage for emerging technologies. AI-powered accessibility tools are becoming more sophisticated, offering automated solutions while still requiring human oversight for quality assurance.

Many organizations benefit from partnering with accessibility specialists who understand both technical requirements and regulatory frameworks. At Aksé, we provide comprehensive digital and mobile accessibility audits, accessible website development, digital accessibility training, and ongoing compliance support.

Success in Canada’s digital accessibility landscape requires understanding the complex interplay of federal and provincial requirements, implementing robust WCAG compliance processes, and building organizational capabilities that sustain accessibility over time. Organizations that establish strong digital accessibility foundations today will be best positioned for long-term success, creating truly inclusive digital experiences that effectively serve all Canadians.

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