Record of Decisions of the Board of Directors’ Regular Meeting – November 25-28, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

1. Welcoming remarks and roll call

• 53-1 Motion presented, seconded and carried by all to open the meeting at 9:03 a.m. EST.

2. Housekeeping

• The Chairperson presented all items related to housekeeping.

3. Land acknowledgement

4. Declaration of conflict and interest

5. Board meeting agenda - Document 5A

• 53-2 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all to approve the agenda as presented.

6. Presentation by Guest Speaker

• The Honourable Carla Qualtrough addressed the Board of Directors on many aspects of removing barriers to inclusion and accessibility for all people in Canada.

7. to 10. Strategic Planning 2026-2029 Consultation – Document 7A

• Board members and consultant R. Sutherns examined all four aspects of this in-depth consultation on creating ASC’s Strategic Plan for 2026-2029.

11. Adjournment

• 53-3 Motion presented and carried to adjourn the meeting at 3:54 p.m. EST.

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

12. Welcoming remarks and roll call

• 53-4 Motion presented, seconded and carried by all to open the meeting at 9:03 a.m. EST.

13. to 17. Consent agenda

• 53-5 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board approve the consent agenda and the Record of Decisions of September 9-11, 2025, as presented.

18. Business arising

• None to report for this meeting.

19. What’s happening

20. Chairperson’s report – Document 20A

• The Chairperson gave a summary of the Board’s involvement with various groups provincially and federally.

21. CEO’s report – Document 21A

The CEO provided an update on ASC’s progress towards its objectives. The CEO answered questions received from Board members.

22. Progress report on the 3-year interested parties engagement strategy

• Director L. Berlinguette-Saumure updated Board members on streams 2 and 3 of the engagement strategy. A briefing was presented on the outcome of the emergency egress consultation.

23. Items pulled from the consent agenda

• No items were reviewed for this meeting.

24. Discussion with interested parties – Council of Canadians with Disabilities

• Board members welcomed the presentation by Heather Walkus and representatives from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities followed by an exchange with Board Directors.

25. Discussion with interested parties – Accessible Canada Directorate and Statistics Canada – Documents 25A and 25B

• Board members welcomed the presentation by Jocelyn Kula from Accessible Canada Directorate, ESDC, and Susan Wallace from Statistics Canada, followed by an exchange with Board Directors.

26. Discussion with interested parties – Carleton University – Documents 26A and 26B

• The members of the Board of Directors welcomed the presentation by Associate Professor Vincent Kazmiersky, Law and Legal Studies, and colleague Tara Connolly from the Accessibility Institute, both from Carleton University, followed by a discussion with Directors.

27. Overview discussion – Day 3

• Board members requested a debriefing period after each presentation instead of end of day debriefing.

28. Adjournment

• 53-6 Motion presented and carried to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 p.m. EST.

Thursday, November 27, 2025

29. Welcome remarks and roll call

• 53-7 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all to open the meeting at 9:03 a.m. EST. Two additional items were added to today’s agenda by the CEO (items 49A and 49B) and agreed by Board members.

30. 2026-2027 Board meeting Calendar

• 53-8 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board approve the 2026-2027 Board Meeting Calendar as follows:
  • ASC Annual Public Meeting: Cancelled until further notice.
  • Regular Board Meeting – In-person: June 9-11, 2026 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. AST), in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • Regular Board Meeting – In-person: September 14 to 17, 2026 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST). Meeting will be held at ASC’s office in the National Capital Region.
  • Regular Board Meeting - Virtual: December 8, 9, 10, 2026 (12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST).
  • Regular Board Meeting - Virtual: March 9, 10, 11, 2027 (12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST).
• Action: J. Desloges will inform the Chief Financial Officer on the purchase of microphone equipment for the Board meeting in September 2026 for ASC’s boardroom and to provide Bluetooth equipment for a Board member.

31. CEO performance assessment 2025-2026: Next steps – process and form approval

• The IAC Committee presented their timeline to prepare for the annual CEO performance assessment.
• Action: Supporting documents will be sent out with the performance assessment questionnaire. The CEO performance assessment will be held in camera at the March 2026 Board meeting.
• Action: A revised template for the performance assessment from the Privy Council office will be sent by the CEO to the IAC to share with Board members.
• The CEO new objectives for 2026-2027 will be reviewed and approved during an in-camera Special Board meeting held in April 2026.
• 53-9 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board approve continuing with the approach as presented.

32. Rights of persons with disabilities to be involved in research - Discussion

• The Board engaged in a meaningful and collaborative discussion.

49A. Accessibility service delivery standard - CSA (Canadian Standards Association)

• The Board of Directors unanimously requested ASC to publish the standard using the following title “Accessibility Service Delivery” and without “for federally regulated entities as defined by the ACA”.

49B. Canadian General Standards Board

• The CEO informed Board members that the federal organization Canadian General Standards Board will end all operations on April 1, 2026.
• 53-10 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board agree to support the CEO’s decision on choosing which standards ASC would adopt from the Canadian General Standards Board.

33. ASC’s accessible and equitable artificial intelligence standard – Document 33A

• The CEO presented ASC’s artificial intelligence standard. This is the first artificial intelligence standard of this type in the world; it will be published as a National Standard of Canada on December 3, 2025.
• 53-11 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board supports Accessibility Standards Canada in recommending to the Minister of Jobs and Families that CAN-ASC-6.2: Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence Systems be considered for adoption into regulation and for support of other related government initiatives.

34. ASC plain language standard – Document 34A

• This is the first ASC standard under the priority of Communication of the Accessible Canada Act.
• 53-12 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all that the Board supports Accessibility Standards Canada in recommending to the Minister of Jobs and Families that federal government departments be encouraged to use CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language standard through the implementation of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches.

35. Standards development update – Document 35A

• This item was not presented due to lack of time in the schedule. Board members received the document outlining all the updates.

36. Centre of expertise – ASC’s website

• Board members welcomed the presentation on the Centre of expertise in ASC’s website which included the latest updates such as search tools, an improved metric system for facilitating navigation and accessibility, and ease of information sharing.
• Additional updates to ASC’s website will be implemented in the next few months: refine data bases/templates for improved accessibility, redesigning the home page and create a central hub for quick access.

37. Discussion with interested parties – Canadian Council of the Blind

• Board members welcomed the presentation by Kim Kilpatrick from the Canadian Council of the Blind, followed by a period of discussion.

38. Considerations for selecting presenters for face-to-face Board meetings – Document 38A

• The Chair of External Affairs Committee shared a document that lists criteria for selecting presenters for face-to-face Board meetings which was initially approved by the Committee members.
• A separate document was shared on screen outlining potential presenters for the June 2026 Board meeting with extra input from Board members.
• Both documents are evergreen and will be built upon at each Board meeting.
• Action: To include the diversity of presenters in document 38A.

39. Transition for standing committees' membership 2026

• Board members reviewed potential outcomes to Board membership in 2026 during the transition period and its repercussion to the composition of Standing Committees’ members and its quorum.

40. Overview discussion – Day 4

• All discussions with presenters provided information that added value to the work of the organization and improvements in processes and standards.
• To schedule guests’ presentations at Board meetings for 45 minutes followed by a discussion period, if daily schedules permit.

41. Adjournment

• 53-13 Motion presented and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 3:58 p.m. EST.

Friday, November 28, 2025

42. Welcome remarks and roll call

• 53-14 Motion presented, seconded, and carried by all to open the meeting at 9:05 a.m. EST.

43. Discussion with interested parties – Canadian Human Rights Commission – Document 43A

• Board members welcomed the presentation by Christopher Sutton, Accessibility Commissioner, and staff members followed by an exchange with the Board of Directors.

44. Overview discussion – Day 5

• Action: Director L. Berlinguette-Saumure expressed interest in working on what the Board can do after standards are published.
• Action: All Board members are encouraged to provide Director L. Berlinguette-Saumure a list of potential guests to meet with the Board of Directors on an annual basis.

45. In-camera session

• There was no in-camera session.

46. Other business

• None to report for this meeting.

47. Board meeting feedback survey (IAC) – Document 47A

• Board members completed the feedback survey form virtually. Results will be provided in time for the Internal Affairs Committee meeting on December 16, 2025.

48. In-person Board meeting feedback form (Governance Team) – Document 48A

• Board members completed the feedback form as well as the Indigenous Awareness training feedback form.

49. Additional items to agenda – November 27, 2025

• See additional items 49A and 49B on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

50. Concluding remarks and adjournment

• 53-15 Motion presented and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:48 a.m. EST.
• The Chairperson thanked all Board members, ASL interpreters, audio-visual technicians and staff for their contribution to making this meeting a success.
• Board members will reconvene for a consultation meeting in January 2026 and for the Regular Board meeting in March 2026.