Mandate

A standard guides activities of organizations in a way that is consistent across sectors. It means people can expect the same level of service or quality of products.

Standards are voluntary measures. They will apply to organizations under federal rule:

• parliamentary bodies, including:
• the Senate
• the House of Commons
• the Library of Parliament
• the office of the Senate Ethics Officer
• the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
• the Parliamentary Protective Service; and
• the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
• federal courts and tribunals
• the Government of Canada, including government departments, agencies and Crown corporations
• the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Taking into account certain job needs (for example, being physically able to do the job); and
• private sector bodies under federal rule, including organizations in:
• the federal transportation network
• the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors; and
• the banking sector

Section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act sets out the following 7 priority areas:

1. employment
2. built environment
3. information and communication technologies
4. communication, other than information and communication technologies
5. service delivery
6. transportation; and
7. procurement

Our Board of Directors voted to start with the following 4 standards:

1. outdoor spaces
2. plain language
3. emergency exits; and
4. employment

To create new standards or to revise standards we already have, we will:

1. set up technical committees that will write the accessibility standards. They will involve:
   • persons with disabilities
   • other experts; and
   • representatives of sectors or organizations that would have to meet the standards
2. post the standards online so that members of the public can comment
3. revise the standards if needed
4. post the final standards online
5. recommend the final standards to the Minister

We will soon set up 2 technical committees. Each committee will create a set of standards. It will take about 18 to 24 months to create a standard.

An organization under federal rule is any organization governed by the Canada Labour Code (Code). These bodies need to obey the rules set out in the Code. Federal law governs these rules. The rules apply to the Government of Canada and some industries.

• Full list of industries and workplaces under federal rule

Organizations not under federal rule include schools, hospitals, shopping centres, restaurants and even sporting facilities. These bodies are subject to different provincial and territorial laws. For example, in Ontario, these types of bodies would come under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act. These organizations may still choose to adopt the standards we develop.

The Constitution sets out the division of powers between the Parliament of Canada, and the provinces and territories. The Accessible Canada Act applies to bodies and matters for which Parliament can create laws. The standards we create could be models outside the federal government. This means that the provinces and territories can adopt them. Provinces and territories will have a chance to take part in the process of creating standards. We will work with all interested parties to balance accessibility needs. This will help to create standards that can apply across Canada.

Standards are voluntary. They cannot be enforced. We will recommend standards to the Minister to be adopted as regulations. Standards can be enforced only if they become regulations.