Details on transfer payment programs: 2025 to 2026

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: Percentage of completed research project reports used by technical committees to inform new standards or revise existing standards.

Research is critical to identifying accessibility barriers, gaps in accessibility and strengthening the argument for new standards in priority areas. Research is also critical to informing technical committees’ work.

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.

The 7 priority areas set out in the Accessible Canada Act (the Act) are the core of our funding program.

These 7 priority areas are always considered for funding:

• built environment
• communication, other than information and communication technologies
• design and delivery of programs and services
• employment
• information and communication technologies
• procurement of goods, services, and facilities
• transportation

Every year, Accessibility Standards Canada assesses emerging needs and may add annual priority areas to complement our core priorities. This helps ensure that our program addresses both the 7 core priority areas set out in the Act and additional priorities that could help address evolving accessibility barriers.

Previous annual priority areas we have included:

• accessibility within northern communities, including cultural and climate considerations
• Canada’s election process, including voting and running for office
• retrofit of existing facilities, including non-traditional work environments and home office environments

For more details on the programs supported and results, please see our 2023 to 2024 Departmental Results Report.

Program priorities for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 cycle of funding are 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
• 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 2025 to 2026 to 2026 to 2027 include:

• research informs the next generation of standards
• best practices on accessibility are publicly available

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

• percentage of completed research project reports used by technical committees to inform new standards or revise existing standards
• number of reports, best practices, expertise, and publications on accessibility standards made publicly available

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 (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2024 to 2025 forecast spending	2025 to 2026 planned spending	2026 to 2027 planned spending	2027 to 2028 planned spending
Total grants	375,000	4,250,000	4,250,000	4,250,000
Total contributions	8,125,000	4,250,000	4,250,000	4,250,000
Total Program	8,500,000	8,500,000	8,500,000	8,500,000