Who oversees the Act

Many people and government organizations are working together to carry out the Accessible Canada Act. They all have different roles and responsibilities.

Minister

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion is responsible for the Accessible Canada Act. They can give advice, support research and create policies and programs about accessibility. They get information, advice and reports from the Chief Accessibility Officer and the Accessibility Commissioner.

Accessibility Commissioner

The Accessibility Commissioner enforces (checks if organizations are following) the Accessible Canada Act and the Accessible Canada Regulations. They will also deal with certain accessibility complaints. The Accessibility Commissioner is a member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Canadian Transportation Agency

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) regulates and deals with disputes about Canada's national transportation system. This includes passenger travel between provinces or outside of Canada by plane, train, bus or ferry. The CTA enforces (checks if organizations are following) the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations. It deals with accessibility complaints about transportation.

The CTA also enforces the Accessible Canada Act and the Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulates and supervises broadcasting (radio and television) and telecommunications (phone and internet) in Canada. It deals with accessibility complaints in those areas.

The CRTC enforces (checks if organizations are following) the Accessible Canada Act and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations.

Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) oversees collective bargaining and grievances in the federal public service and Parliament. It also deals with complaints about internal appointments and layoffs.

The Board deals with accessibility complaints for most federal public servants and parliamentary employees. It will also deal with appeals of some decisions about parliamentary organizations under the Accessible Canada Act.

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal deals with discrimination complaints under the Canadian Human Rights Act. It will also deal with appeals of some of the Accessibility Commissioner's decisions under the Accessible Canada Act.

Chief Accessibility Officer

The Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO) gives the Minister advice and reports about the Accessible Canada Act. This includes reports on the outcomes of the Act and on new or systemic accessibility issues.

Accessibility Standards Canada

Accessibility Standards Canada develops and reviews accessibility standards. It can recommend that the government turn accessibility standards into regulations. (Organizations are only required to follow accessibility standards if the government turns them into regulations.) Accessibility Standards Canada also supports research and shares information about accessibility.