An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada

Short title: Accessible Canada Act Bill C-81 (42-1) Status: Royal assent received Type: House Government Bill Sponsor: Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility (Delta) Latest stage: Royal assent Legislative

summary <div>The pre-release version of this Legislative

Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament at Info@parl.gc.ca.<br/><br/>On June 2018, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility introduced Bill C-81,

An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada (Accessible Canada Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. <br/><br/>Bill C-81 enacts the Accessible Canada Act in order to enhance the full and equal participation of all persons, especially persons with disabilities, in society.

This is to be achieved through the progressive realization, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, of a Canada without barriers, particularly by the identification, removal and prevention of barriers.<br/><br/>Part of the Act establishes the Minister’s mandate, powers, duties and functions.<br/><br/>Part of the Act establishes the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization and provides for its mandate and structure and its powers, duties and functions.<br/><br/>Part of the Act authorizes the Accessibility Commissioner to provide the Minister with information, advice and written reports in respect of the administration and enforcement of the Act.

It also requires the Accessibility Commissioner to submit an annual report on his or her activities under the Act to the Minister for tabling in Parliament.<br/><br/>Part of the Act imposes duties on regulated entities that include the duty to prepare accessibility plans and progress reports in consultation with persons with disabilities, the duty to publish those plans and reports and the duty to establish a feedback process and to publish a description of it.<br/><br/>Part of the Act provides for the Accessibility Commissioner’s inspection and other powers, including the power to make production orders and compliance orders and the power to impose administrative monetary penalties.<br/><br/>Part of the Act provides for a complaints process for, and the awarding of compensation to, individuals that have suffered physical or psychological harm, property damage or economic loss as the result of?—?or that have otherwise been adversely affected by?—?the contravention of provisions of the regulations.<br/><br/>Part of the Act provides for the appointment of the Chief Accessibility Officer and sets out that officer’s duties and functions, including the duty to advise the Minister in respect of systemic or emerging accessibility issues.<br/><br/>Part of the Act authorizes the Governor in Council to make regulations, including regulations to establish accessibility standards and to specify the form of accessibility plans and progress reports.

It also provides, among other things, for the designation of the week starting on the last Sunday in May as National AccessAbility Week.<br/><br/>Part of the Act provides for the application of certain provisions of the Act to parliamentary entities, without limiting the powers, privileges and immunities of the Senate, the House of Commons and the members of those Houses.<br/><br/>Parts and of the Act make related and consequential amendments to certain Acts.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2018-06-20) House of Commons — Second reading: Completed (2018-09-26) House of Commons — Consideration in committee: Completed (2018-11-19) House of Commons — Report stage: Completed (2018-11-21) House of Commons — Third reading: Completed (2018-11-27) Senate — First reading: Completed (2018-11-29) Senate — Second reading: Completed (2019-03-20) Senate — Consideration in committee: Completed (2019-05-07) Senate — Report stage: Completed (2019-05-08) Senate — Third reading: Completed (2019-05-13) Full bill text is not included in the LEGISinfo JSON export.

Open the official Parliament of Canada bill page for the complete document.