Departmental Plan 2026 to 2027: At a glance
A departmental plan details Accessibility Standards Canada’s priorities, plans, and associated costs for the upcoming 3 fiscal years.
These plans align with the priorities outlined in the mandate letter, as well as Accessibility Standards Canada’s vision, mission, raison d’être and operating context.
Related links
Key priorities
Accessibility Standards Canada’s identified the following key priorities for 2026 to 2027:
- Develop standards in the 7 priority areas of the Accessible Canada Act .
- Fund diverse research projects that aim to inform the development of next-generation model accessibility standards.
- Facilitate the public’s access to:
- standards in development and published
- research that has received funding through our Grants and Contributions program
- technical guides offering practical guidance and best practices
Comprehensive Expenditure Review
The government is committed to restraining the growth of day-to-day operational spending to make investments that will grow the economy and benefit Canadians.
Accessibility Standards Canada does not have planned reductions under the Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
Accessibility Standards Canada will, however, respect the spirit of the exercise by doing the following:
- review and reaffirm our priorities
- identify efficiencies and streamline internal processes
- ensure resources are aligned with our priorities and highest-impact work
- support our continued growth and effectiveness as the organization matures
The departmental plan reflects these measures.
Highlights for Accessibility Standards Canada in 2026 to 2027
Advance accessibility standards across Canada
Accessibility Standards Canada will continue to lead the development of model accessibility standards in the 7 priority areas of the Accessible Canada Act.
In the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, we will:
- publish 1 new standard
- conduct 1 public review of a draft standard
- establish 1 new technical committee to address emerging accessibility issues
We will continue to support 8 technical committees as they advance standards at different stages of development. We will ensure that people with disabilities are represented in every phase of the development process.
We will also collaborate with another standards development organization to:
- expand our capacity to influence
- harmonize accessibility approaches across jurisdictions and sectors
Strengthen research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing
Through our Advancing Accessibility Standards Research funding program, we will:
- fund new, diverse research projects that inform the next generation of accessibility standards
- increase collaborative opportunities with disability organizations across Canada
- continue to implement the recommendations from the evaluation of the program to enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness
Building on this foundation, we will:
- continue to engage with provincial and territorial governments
- strengthen engagement with federally regulated entities, industry and other partners and interested parties, to encourage their involvement in the development and use of standards
- foster partnerships with national and international organizations to increase the reach of our standards and expand the network of accessibility expertise
These efforts will help:
- ensure that accessibility standards reflect lived experiences and best practices
- support harmonization of approaches across jurisdictions and accessibility standards uptake
- strengthen Canada’s leadership in accessibility innovation across Canada and around the world
Enhance access to information and public engagement
We will continue to improve how Canadians access and engage with our work by increasing our reach and enhancing the accessibility of our communications tools.
Through our 2 online databases, the public is able to:
- easily find draft and published standards and technical guides
- access research funded through our Grants and Contributions Program
We will continue to improve the accessibility and user experience of our website to ensure it meets the diverse needs of our audiences.
Our outreach will remain timely and consistent through:
- our website
- social media channels
- news releases
- our targeted newsletters
These efforts will strengthen engagement with:
- people with disabilities and organizations representing them
- other federal departments and agencies
- federally regulated entities
- industry
- various other partners and interested parties
By facilitating access to and engagement with our work, we will continue to encourage broader participation in the development and use of accessibility standards.
In 2026 to 2027, total planned spending (including internal services) for Accessibility Standards Canada is $21,366,957 and total planned full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) is 63.
Summary of planned results
The following provides a summary of the results the department plans to achieve in 2026 to 2027 under its main areas of activity, called “core responsibility.”
Core responsibility: Accessibility standards
Accessibility Standards Canada plans to improve accessibility standards for 2026 to 2027 by supporting important research and bringing in feedback from different communities. We will fund research projects focusing on barriers identified in the Accessible Canada Act and ensure that people with disabilities are included in these projects. Engaging and collaborating with groups, especially Indigenous and diverse communities, will help everyone participate in developing these standards. We will also make accessibility tools and resources easy to find and use online. Success will be measured by more people getting involved, better access to resources, and wider use of the new standards across Canada.
Planned spending: $15,641,161
Planned human resources: 45
More information about our core responsibility Accessibility standards can be found in the full plan.