Info Source: Sources of federal government and employee information

2025 to 2026

General information

Alternate formats

Large print, print, braille, MP3 (audio), e-text, sign language and Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) formats are available on demand.

To request this plan in an alternate format:

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source explains:

  • Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) programs and activities
  • the information held by ASC, including personal information under its control

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act apply to ASC programs and activities.

Info Source references the personal information of:

  • individuals
  • current and former employees of the government

The purpose of this page is to help these individuals find out:

  • which programs may hold personal information about them
  • which programs to focus on when making a formal request under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act

Background

Accessibility Standards Canada is a departmental corporation created in 2019 under the Accessible Canada Act (the Act). We are committed to creating accessibility standards for federally-regulated entities and federal organizations. These include government buildings, banks, and federal courts, among others. We are an accredited standards development organization. This means our standards are recognized as National Standards of Canada. This helps us open doors so that Canada can influence and be a global leader on matters related to accessibility.

Our Minister and CEO

Responsibilities

Read about our mandate and responsibilities.

We have a critical mandate to help achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040. We do that by:

  1. Developing accessibility standards
  2. Advancing accessibility research
  3. Sharing information related to accessibility

These activities are aligned with the priority areas in the Act.

We specialize in creating and revising accessibility standards that aim to help federally-regulated entities and federal organizations eliminate barriers to accessibility. Our process involves gathering insights from experts, including individuals with lived experience, to ensure the standards address the needs of diverse groups. The public is invited to comment on each standard.

Our published accessibility standards are voluntary. However, they may be adopted by the Minister under the Act, making them mandatory for federally regulated organizations and government departments. Each standard is developed by a technical committee that we establish, with at least 30% of members being people with disabilities. These committees are responsible for crafting the standards and comprise experts, individuals with disabilities, and industry representatives.

Internal services

Internal services constitute groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of an organization. These groups are:

  • management and oversight services
  • communications services
  • legal services
  • human resources management services
  • financial management services
  • information management services
  • information technology services
  • real property services
  • materiel services
  • acquisition services
  • travel and other administrative services

Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization, and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisition services

Acquisition services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract .

Communications services

Communications services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed and responsive to the diverse needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the internal and external public receives government information. It also ensures that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management, and evaluation of policies, programs, services, and initiatives.

Financial management services

Financial management services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources. This includes planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human resources management services

Human resources management services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes. It also involves activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. These activities ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and plans.

Information management services

Information management services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management. These activities support program and service delivery, foster informed decision making, facilitate accountability, transparency and collaboration. They also help to preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information technology services

Information technology services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology. These activities support government priorities and program delivery, increase productivity, and enhance services to the public.

Legal services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

Management and oversight services

Management and oversight services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes. It also includes activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. These activities ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, or plans.

Materiel services

Materiel services involve activities undertaken to ensure materiel is managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner. Specifically, in a manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Real property

Real property services involve activities undertaken to ensure that real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner throughout its life cycle. These activities support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Travel and other administrative services

Travel and other administrative services include Government of Canada travel services, and any other internal services that do not fit into any of the internal services categories.

Classes of personal information

Application intake service for grants and contribution-funded opportunities

We may collect limited personal information from applicants for opportunities supported by our grants and contributions program.

The Funded research project database makes it easier for you to access all the cutting-edge research we funded through our grants and contributions program. Their findings will keep you informed on the latest best practices on accessibility and help you to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Manuals

Additional Information

Access to Information and Privacy

The Access to Information and Privacy Division of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for the administration of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act on behalf of ASC.

Note: The Access to Information and Privacy Division is responsible for processing requests received under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act for records held by ASC. These requests should be forwarded to the following:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator

Employment and Social Development Canada
Phase IV, Level 12, Mail stop 1203
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9
Telephone: 819-654-6972
Fax: 819-953-0659

Generic mailbox: NC-COMM-ATIP-AIPRP-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

For additional information about programs and activities, visit the Accessibility Standards Canada website.

Completed access to information requests

ESDC provides a list of completed access to information requests online on behalf of ASC. All requests related to ASC are processed by ESDC and are included in these statistics.

Privacy Impact Assessments

To assure Canadians that privacy principles are being considered when there are proposals for and during the design, implementation and evolution of programs and services that raise privacy issues by:

  • prescribing the development and maintenance of Privacy Impact Assessments
  • routinely communicating the results of Privacy Impact Assessments to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the public

Privacy Impact Assessments provide a framework to ensure that privacy is considered throughout the design or re-design of programs or services. The assessments identify the extent to which proposals comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act, the Accessible Canada Act, regulations and Treasury Board Directive on Privacy Impact Assessment, Appendix C: Standard on Privacy Impact Assessment. Assessments assist managers and decision-makers to avoid or mitigate privacy risks and promote fully informed policy, program and system design choices.

Public summaries: Privacy impact reports

Subsection 4.2.15 of the Directive on Privacy Practices requires institutions to make summaries of the results of their Privacy Assessments available to the public.

List of Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)

Review in progress for Fiscal Year 2025 to 2026

List of Information Sharing Agreements (ISAs)

None currently to report

List of contracts containing personal information

None currently to report

Reading room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available should the applicant wish to review materials on site. The address is:

National Headquarters
Place du Portage, Phase IV, Level 12
140 Promenade du Portage,
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9

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