Departmental Plan: 2026 to 2027

As Chairperson of the Board of Directors, I am proud to support the continued work of Accessibility Standards Canada as it advances its important mandate. In 2026 to 2027, the Board will continue to provide guidance, advice, and oversight, helping the organization move forward with confidence toward a barrier-free Canada.

People with disabilities are at the centre of everything the organization does. The Board strongly supports meaningful involvement and two-way conversations in research, standards development, and engagement activities. Leadership by people with disabilities is essential. It leads to better decision-making and ensures that the work we do reflects lived experience and real needs.

The Board also focuses on staying informed about and attentive to emerging trends. We identify barriers and best practices. We draw on insights from communities and partners. We help inform priorities and support the organization’s ability to deliver work that is relevant and meaningful. We value input on draft standards and support broad engagement from Canadians. Your voice helps shape standards.

Collaboration continues to be an essential part of the Board’s work. The Board supports engagement with local and national disability organizations, federally regulated entities, industry, Indigenous partners, and international organizations. These relationships help align approaches, share best practices, and extend the reach and visibility of accessibility standards across sectors.

The Board remains committed to strong governance, thoughtful advice, and responsible oversight. I would like to thank my fellow Board members, the Chief Executive Officer, the technical committees, and the staff of Accessibility Standards Canada for their dedication and expertise. Together, their efforts continue to move Canada forward, step by step, toward a more accessible and inclusive future for everyone.

Core responsibility and internal services

• Core responsibility: Accessibility standards
• Internal services

Core responsibility: Accessibility standards

Description

The following is taken from our Departmental Results Framework:

Accessibility Standards Canada works to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility by developing and revising accessibility standards in priority areas defined in section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the Society, Prosperity, Good Governance, Environment and Health domains of the Government of Canada’s Quality of Life Framework for Canada.

Through the activities described in this core responsibility, Accessibility Standards Canada advances justice and human rights for people with disabilities. This is because our accessibility standards ensure they are treated equally, fairly, and with dignity. Our standards also ensure people with disabilities have equal access to the goods, services, and opportunities available to all Canadians.

This core responsibility contributes to the following domains:

• Society: More specifically the indicator “Sense of belonging to local community” supported by 30 of our standards. Theses standards remove barriers, foster inclusion and strengthen social participation and belonging for people with disabilities like the Accessible Childcare Centres standard.
• Prosperity: More specifically the indicator “Making ends meet” (supported by 7 of our standards) and “Acceptable housing” (supported by 3 of our standards). These indicators are supported through standards (like Employment and Accessible-Ready Housing) that promote accessible housing environments, enabling people with disabilities to participate fully in:
  • economy
  • community life
  • equitable workplaces
• Good Governance: More specifically the indicator “Discrimination and unfair treatment” supported by 27 of our standards. These standards aim to:
  • remove systemic barriers
  • strengthen fairness and inclusion
  • build public trust in federal programs, services, and justice systems like the Accessible Justice: Federal Courts and Tribunals standard
• Environment: More specifically the indicator “Access to public transit” supported by 17 of our standards. These standards promote:
  • accessible transportation systems
  • environments enabling people with disabilities to travel independently
  • full participation in daily activities like the standards on Accessible Travel Journey: Building Environment (14 standards)
• Health: More specifically the indicator “Perceived mental health” supported by 15 of our standards. The standards:
  • remove physical and communication barriers
  • improve accessibility in environments and services
  • contribute to overall well-being and quality of life like the Equitable Communication standard

Indicators, results, and targets

This section presents details on the organization’s indicators, the actual results from the 3 most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates for accessibility standards. Details are presented by departmental result.

Table 1: Research informs the next generation of standards

Table 1 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under accessibility standards.

Table 2: Accessibility standards are in place to address barriers in priority areas as defined in section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act

Table 2 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under accessibility standards.

Table 3: Stakeholders are engaged in the delivery of our mandate

Table 3 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under accessibility standards.

Table 4: Best practices on accessibility are publicly available

Table 4 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under accessibility standards.

Additional information on the detailed results and performance information for the Accessibility Standards Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

The following section describes the planned results for accessibility standards in 2026 to 2027.

Departmental result 1: Research informs the next generation of standards

Results we plan to achieve

Supporting research is a key part of our mandate because evidence-based research informs our standards. In the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, we will continue to support and share accessibility research to inform standards development and maintenance of standards.

To achieve this, we will:

• Continue funding research projects in the 7 priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act. By funding research in these areas, we ensure that the program’s research identifies barriers faced by Canadians and produces evidence that guides standards development.
• Ensure inclusion of people with disabilities in every funded project. We will continue to make it a funding requirement that all projects include people with disabilities in meaningful ways:
  • project leads
  • team members
  • advisors
  • participants

Their lived experience is essential to making the funded research useful and relevant.

• Continue to implement recommendations from the program evaluation. We will keep improving the administration and delivery of the research program based on the findings and recommendations from our recent evaluation. This will help us ensure that the program continues to meet its objectives.
• Assess and fund new research projects. We will assess proposals received and put in place funding agreements for projects that will start this fiscal year.
• Support organizations that receive funding. This support includes:
  • answer questions
  • provide additional information
  • facilitate reporting mechanisms and provide tools needed to successfully deliver their projects
• Review completed research. We will review research reports and plain-language summaries for all completed funded research projects. This helps ensure that funded projects are delivered as per funding agreement and that findings will inform standards in development.
• Share and make research easy to find. As funded projects are completed, we will continue to share the research reports and plain-language summaries. We will also make it easy to find the information online through our funded Research project database. This helps the public, researchers and organizations learn about funded projects and see how research informs the development of accessibility standards.
• Prepare the next fiscal year research funding cycle. We will begin planning the next funding cycle for projects that will start in 2027 to 2028.

Departmental result 2: Accessibility standards in place to address barriers in priority areas as defined in section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act.

Results we plan to achieve

By continuing to engage and collaborate with technical committees composed of experts with disabilities and other experts in the field of each standard, we will do the following:

• Publish the following standard:
  • Part 1: Design and Delivery of Accessible Programs and Services: Accessible Service Delivery
• Initiate the public review of the following standard:
  • Accessible-Ready Modular Homes
• Continue to advance the following standards under development:
  • Accessible-Ready Housing
  • Accessible-Ready Small Homes
  • Accessible-Ready Modular Homes
  • Emergency Egress (Exit)
  • Model Standard for the Built Environment
  • Wayfinding and Signage
  • Acoustics in the Built Environment
  • Existing Built Environment
  • Heritage Buildings and Sites
  • Accessible Childcare Centres
  • Equitable Communication
  • Accessible Procurement
  • Accessible Design and Delivery of Programs and Services
  • Part 1: Design and Delivery of Accessible Programs and Services: Accessible Service Delivery
  • Accessible Justice: Federal Courts and Tribunals
  • Accessible Justice: Federal Programs
  • AI Authoring Tools
  • Emergency Measures
  • Accessible Travel Journey: Built environment (14 standards)

Departmental result 3: Stakeholders are engaged in the delivery of our mandate

Results we plan to achieve

In the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, Accessibility Standards Canada will create collaborative opportunities with partners and interested parties. We will ensure that people with disabilities and diverse disability organizations are active contributors to the development and promotion of accessibility standards. Our goal is to increase collaboration, participation, and use of our standards and technical guides across Canada.

To achieve these results, we plan to:

• Expand participation in standards development. We will increase outreach to disability organizations, federally regulated entities, and equity-seeking groups. This will ensure diverse representation in all technical committees and consultations.
• Promote public engagement in standards reviews. We will encourage participation in public reviews of draft standards through:
  • targeted communications campaigns
  • social media
  • outreach by Board Members within their networks
• Enhance awareness and use of Accessibility Standards Canada’s products. We will distribute tailored newsletters to promote the use of:
  • our standards
  • our research
  • our technical guides in accessibility plans and operations
• Continue to engage with provincial and territorial governments. We will:
  • share draft standards
  • participate in collaborative forums and briefings
  • conduct targeted outreach at 3 key phases of the standards development process:
    • pre-development
    • development
    • post development
• Engage with Indigenous communities. We will continue to:
  • Collaborate with Indigenous disability organizations and territorial governments to ensure Indigenous perspectives and priorities are reflected in accessibility standards.
  • Ensure that Indigenous communities are aware of available research projects and Grants and Contributions program.
• Implement system-wide approaches to promote use of our standards and technical guides. We will work with federal departments to encourage their voluntary use, fostering a consistent approach to accessibility across government programs and services.
• Continue to strengthen partnerships with national and international organizations to influence and harmonize accessibility practices across jurisdictions. We will also seek to broaden the reach of our standards and expertise by collaborating with international partnerships and other standards development organizations.
• Participate in events that advance accessibility. We will engage with national and international partners through conferences, consultations, or presentations to:
  • share knowledge
  • promote the use of our resources
  • learn from others’ best practices
• Continue to broaden inclusion and representation. We will seek to expand our reach to equity-seeking and marginalized groups, by:
  • embedding a Gender-based analysis Plus (GBA Plus) lens in all communications activities
  • reinforcing the organization’s commitment to:
    • equity
    • intersectionality
    • systemic inclusion

This will ensure that diverse lived experiences are reflected in our standards and guidance materials.

By the end of 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, success will be measured through growth in:

• partners and interested parties’ participation
• expanded collaboration networks
• increased reference to our standards and technical guides in accessibility plans and sectoral initiatives

Departmental result 4: Best practices on accessibility are publicly available

Results we plan to achieve

Accessibility Standards Canada will continue to make accessibility knowledge, tools, and best practices publicly available, free of charge. This will help organizations implement accessibility in a consistent and practical way. In the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, we aim to continue to improve public access and usability and expand the reach of accessibility information and resources.

To achieve these results, we plan to:

• Improve access to our work through enhanced online databases and information architecture. We will make standards in development and published, funded and completed research, and technical guides easier to find. Updates to our website will include a new Priority Areas page and pre-filtered search options designed using user feedback to help visitors locate resources quickly and intuitively.
• Enhance technical accessibility and the overall user experience. We will continue improving our website’s accessibility and navigation so that all users can easily access and interact with content across our digital platforms.
• Expand communications reach and engagement. Through news releases, social media, audience-specific newsletters, and targeted communications, we will share:
  • best practices
  • new resources
  • lessons learned from funded research

This will help increase awareness and use of our standards and resources.

By the end of 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, we expect to see increased website traffic to our databases, a higher number of visits to our standards and technical guides webpages. We also anticipate receiving more requests for research reports. We aim for greater visibility of our standards and resources across sectors.

Gender-based Analysis Plus

Accessibility Standards Canada’s work is guided by the principles and requirements of the Accessible Canada Act. This Act seeks to increase the inclusion and participation of all Canadians in various aspects of society, including:

• employment
• education
• transportation
• community engagement

People with disabilities are diverse and disability can intersect with other identity factors such as:

• gender
• race
• indigeneity
• sexual orientation

These intersecting factors can create and amplify barriers to accessibility.

How we integrate Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) into our programs and activities

We apply an intersectional approach across all areas of our mandate, from research funding and standards development to communications and engagement with partners and interested parties.

To ensure that diverse experiences and perspectives inform our work:

• Technical committees must reflect Canada’s diversity. We require that:
  • at least 30% of members be people with disabilities or individuals with lived experience
  • at least 30% be from equity-deserving groups:
    • 2SLGBTQI+
    • Indigenous Peoples
    • women
    • visible minorities
• Research funding recipients must describe how they will apply an intersectionality lens in the planning and delivery of their projects. This requirement is included in all funding agreements.
• Public reviews of draft standards include voluntary demographic questions. This helps us better understand who is participating and identify any representation gaps.
• Organizational diversity continues to be a strength. More than 30% of our staff and a majority of Board members have lived experience with disability.

How we measure impacts and improve

To better assess how our programs affect different groups, Accessibility Standards Canada will continue to:

• Collect and analyze demographic data annually from:
  • technical committee members
  • research funding recipients
  • public reviewers

This will be done while respecting privacy and consent, and ensuring all participation is voluntary and confidential.

• Improve quarterly feedback loops and communications metrics (e.g., participation rates, engagement reach, and partner feedback) to refine outreach and reporting practices.

Building inclusive communications and engagement

We will also continue to:

• Apply an intersectional lens to all communications and outreach activities, using inclusive language and visuals that reflect diverse experiences and real-world needs.
• Review key campaigns and messaging through a GBA Plus lens to ensure they resonate with and are accessible to a wide range of audiences.
• Use gender-neutral and plain language and offer accessible formats to ensure everyone can access and understand our information.
• Provide audiences with the most accessible way possible to share feedback to continuously improve how we reach and represent diverse communities in our work.
• Seek and build partnerships with various organizations and federal inclusion networks to help strengthen outreach and improve the quality of GBA Plus data.
• Provide training and resources to staff on inclusive communications, privacy and data transparency. This will reinforce awareness, accountability and continuous improvement.

Planned resources to achieve results

Table 5: Planned resources to achieve results for Accessibility standards

Table 5 provides a summary of the planned spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.

Complete financial and human resources information for the Accessibility Standards Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Program inventory

Our core responsibility, which is to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility by developing and revising accessibility standards, is supported by the following programs:

• standards development
• outreach and knowledge application

Additional information related to the program inventory for accessibility standards is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Internal services

Description

• Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:
• acquisition management services
• communications services
• financial management services
• human resources management services
• information management services
• information technology services
• legal services
• material management services
• management and oversight services
• real property management services

Plans to achieve results

This section presents details the organization’s plans to achieve results and meet targets for internal services.

To achieve results, Accessibility Standards Canada plans to:

Communication services

We plan to strengthen public access to accessibility information and tools by finalizing the implementation of findings from user experience and accessibility testing. We will refine our 2 online databases to make standards, technical guides, and research easier to find. These improvements will help ensure that all audiences can easily find, access and use our resources.

We will enhance communications accessibility and inclusivity. We will apply an inclusive approach to communications to ensure our messages, visuals, and language reflect Canada’s diversity. We will continue to guide staff on best practices and how to use inclusive imagery and apply plain language best practices.

We will continue our efforts to engage new and existing audiences. We will grow our reach through social media, targeted campaigns and newsletters and news releases that promote:

• standards
• research
• best practices

We will use data analytics to better understand audience engagement and adapt strategies.

We will refine evaluation and performance measurement for communications activities. We will further define our communications performance indicators to capture engagement, reach, and outcomes. This includes integrating feedback from partners and public reviewers and using data from our online platforms to inform continuous improvement.

We will improve internal communications by exploring a new tool for the staff’s monthly bulletin to ensure more timely, efficient and transparent information sharing. This includes new approaches to internal engagement to help foster collaboration, connection, and a stronger sense of community among employees.

Real property

Employees and visitors continue to have access to barrier-free experience. Our office continues to serve as a model of accessibility within the federal government. We are committed to ensuring that our workplace remains inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities.

Human resources management

The priorities will be supporting diversity, inclusion, and mental health. We will work with a new organizational Equity, Diversity, and Inclusioncommittee that will provide staff members with a safe space to discuss topics such as unconscious bias, combatting racism, and intersectionality.

We will develop an action plan focused on leadership, engagement, and mental health. In doing so, we will raise awareness of mental health, create a positive work environment, and strengthen team cohesion. Inclusive management practices and increased mental health awareness will help us leverage everyone’s talent, improve individual well‑being, and ultimately enhance the overall performance of the entire organization.

We will also continue our efforts to implement the employment standard that we recently published. This way, we can show other organizations how to improve job accessibility within the federal public service. We intend to act as a leader in diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We will take concrete measures to promote:

• engagement
• well-being
• personal development
• a sense of belonging for all staff members

Planned resources to achieve results

Table 6: Planned resources to achieve results for internal services this year

Table 6 provides a summary of the planned spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.

Complete financial and human resources information for the Accessibility Standards Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planning for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses

Government of Canada departments are to meet a target of awarding at least 5% of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses each year.

We have established a plan that uses the tools at our disposal to achieve the 5% requirement. The plan includes doing the following, we will:

• Use the government’s Indigenous Business Directory to identify businesses that may be able to supply what we need.
• Continue to offer opportunities through request for proposals posted on the government’s CanadaBuys platform.
• Invite Indigenous businesses to submit bids when we are purchasing goods or services.
• Clarify our purchasing needs and target Indigenous businesses that have the capacity to meet our requirements.

Table 7: Percentage of contracts planned and awarded to Indigenous businesses

Table 7 presents the current, actual results with forecasted and planned results for the total percentage of contracts the organization awarded to Indigenous businesses.

This section provides an overview of Accessibility Standards Canada’s planned spending and human resources for the next 3 fiscal years and of planned spending for 2026 to 2027 with actual spending from previous years.

Spending

This section presents an overview of the organization’s planned expenditures from 2023 to 2024 to 2028 to 2029.

Budgetary performance summary

Table 8: 3-year spending summary for core responsibility and internal services (dollars)

Table 8 presents Accessibility Standards Canada’s spending over the past 3 years to carry out its core responsibility and for internal services. Amounts for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year are forecasted based on spending to date.

Analysis of the past 3 years of spending

Spending has stabilised along with our resources. Based on our improved corporate structure and internal processes, we are projecting efficient use of our financial resources on an ongoing basis.

More financial information from previous years is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Table 9: Planned 3-year spending on core responsibility and internal services (dollars)

Table 9 presents Accessibility Standards Canada’s planned spending over the next 3 years by core responsibilities and for internal services.

Analysis of the next 3 years of spending

Our resources have reached a steady state. Based on our improved corporate structure and internal processes, we are projecting efficient use of our financial resources on an ongoing basis.

More detailed financial information on planned spending is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Funding

This section provides an overview of the organization’s voted and statutory funding for its core responsibility and for internal services. For further information on funding authorities, consult the Government of Canada budgets and expenditures.

Graph 1: Approved funding (statutory and voted) over a 6-year period (dollars)

Statutory and voted funding

Table 10: Approved funding (statutory and voted) over a 6 year period (dollars)

Table 10 shows the approved statutory and voted funding of the organization for the period of 2023 to 2024 to 2028 to 2029.

Analysis of statutory and voted funding over a 6-year period

Our funding has remained consistent for the past years following the successful ramp up of our operations.

For further information on Accessibility Standards Canada’s organization appropriations, consult the 2026 to 2027 Main Estimates.

Future-oriented condensed statement of operations

The future-oriented condensed statement of operations provides an overview of Accessibility Standards Canada’s operations for 2025 to 2026 to 2026 to 2027.

Table 11: Future-oriented condensed statement of operations for the year ended March 31, 2027 (dollars)

Table 11 summarizes the expenses and revenues which net to the cost of operations before government funding and transfers for 2025 to 2026 to 2026 to 2027. The forecast and planned amounts in this statement of operations were prepared on an accrual basis. The forecast and planned amounts presented in other sections of the Departmental Plan were prepared on an expenditure basis. Amounts may therefore differ.

Analysis of forecasted and planned results

A more detailed Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and associated Notes for 2026 to 2027, including a reconciliation of the net cost of operations with the requested authorities, is available on Accessibility Standards Canada’s website.

Human resources

This section presents an overview of the organization’s actual and planned human resources from 2023 to 2024 to 2028 to 2029.

Table 12: Actual human resources for core responsibility and internal services

Table 12 shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents, for Accessibility Standards Canada’s core responsibility and for its internal services for the previous 3 fiscal years. Human resources for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date.

Analysis of human resources over the last 3 years

Our human resources have remained consistent for the past years following the successful ramp up of our operations.

Table 13: Human resources planning summary for core responsibility and internal services

Table 13 shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents, of Accessibility Standards Canada’s core responsibility and for its internal services planned for the next 3 years.

Analysis of human resources for the next 3 years

Our human resources will remain consistent for the upcoming years following the successful ramp up of our operations.

Accessibility Standards Canada’s Departmental Plan does not include information on tax expenditures.

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures.

This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs as well as evaluations and GBA Plus of tax expenditures.