Details on transfer payment programs

Accessibility Standards Canada Grants and Contributions Program: Advancing Accessibility Standards Research

Start date

2019 to 2020

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation

Each year through Main Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018 to 2019

Link to departmental result

Core Responsibility: Accessibility Standards

Result: Research informs the next generation of standards.

Indicator: The percentage of funding invested by the organization in research and development (R&D) projects. These are projects that influence accessibility standards. These are also projects that influence priorities in standards development.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory

Standards Development

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Program provides funding for research projects. The purpose of these projects is to identify and remove accessibility barriers. The research informs the next generation of standards.

The Program allows the organization to work with different stakeholders across Canada. The goal of this work is to advance accessibility standards research. The organization will identify the research priority areas for each call for proposals.

Previous program priorities have included:

• transportation;
• outdoor spaces;
• accessible tourism;
• emergency measures;
• emergency egress (exit);
• accessible communications;
• an accessible travel journey;
• acoustics in the built environment;
• accessibility in Indigenous communities;
• communication (other than plain language)
• information and communication technologies
• built environment, including parks and outdoor recreation facilities;
• procurement (buying) of goods, services, and facilities
• Canada’s election process, including voting and running for office;
• retrofit of existing facilities, including non-traditional work environments and home office environments;
• design and delivery of programs and services, including inclusive and accessible service delivery;
• employment, including accessible employment for youth with disabilities transitioning from school to work;
• communication, other than information and communication technologies, including accessible communications through sign language (American Sign Language, Langue des signes québécoise, Indigenous Sign Language).

For more details on the programs supported and results, please see our 2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report.

Program priorities for 2025 to 2026 cycle of funding will be based on the list of priorities set out in the Accessible Canada Act.

The Program uses funding from these transfer payments:

• Grants under the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program; and
• Contributions under the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program.

Expected results

The Program terms and conditions set out the expected results and performance indicators.

The expected results from 2024 to 2025 to 2025 to 2026 include:

• Accessibility Standards are developed to address barriers in priority areas.
• Research informs the next generation of standards.
• Stakeholders are engaged on accessibility standards.
• Best practices on accessibility are publicized.

The Program will track performance, monitor and report program results. The key performance indicators include:

• Number of standards developed or revised in priority areas.
• Number of research project reports used by technical committees. to inform new standards or revise existing standards.
• Number of activities organized to engage stakeholders on accessibility standards.
• Number of reports, best practices, expertise, and publications on accessibility standards made publicly available.
• Number of technical committees established.
• Number of unique views on-line.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable, new program.

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable.

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2024 to 2025

General targeted recipient groups

• Research and educational institutions;
• Not-for-profit organizations;
• Indigenous organizations including band and tribal councils and self-governing entities;
• Municipal entities, Provincial and Territorial entities (excluding governments).

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

The Program’s ongoing activities include:

• adding program information and call for proposals on the website;
• providing an online application process which is more accessible;
• supporting applicants and recipients during the application and reporting processes;
• managing the delivery of the program for funded recipients (financial and activity reporting).

The organization works with program stakeholders throughout the year by organizing meetings and attending related conferences.

The organization also plans to consult stakeholders to help with setting Program priorities.

Financial Information

Type of transfer payment	2023 to 2024 forecast spending	2024 to 2025 planned spending	2025 to 2026 planned spending	2026 to 2027 planned spending
Total grants	746,277	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Total contributions	7,753,723	7,500,000	7,500,000	7,500,000
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0
Total Program	8,500,000	8,500,000	8,500,000	8,500,000