Accessible Canada Act

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Sections834

• 1Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Accessible Canada Act.

• 2Definitions

  The following definitions apply in this Act.

• 2[p2]

  Accessibility Commissioner means the member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission that is appointed under subsection 26(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act and that is referred to in that Act as the “Accessibility Commissioner”. (commissaire à l’accessibilité)

• 2[p3]

  barrier means anything — including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice — that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation. (obstacle)

• 2[p4]

  broadcasting undertaking has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act. (entreprise de radiodiffusion)

• 2[p5]

  Canadian carrier has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act. (entreprise canadienne)

• 2[p6]

  disability means any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society. (handicap)

• 2[p7]

  Minister means the member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada designated under section 4. (ministre)

• 2[p8]

  personal information has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Privacy Act. (renseignements personnels)

• 2[p9]

  regulated entity means an entity or person referred to in subsection 7(1). (entité réglementée)

• 2[p10]

  Standards Organization means the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization established under subsection 17(1). (organisation de normalisation)

• 2[p11]

  telecommunications service provider has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act. (fournisseur de services de télécommunication)

• 3Binding on Her Majesty

  This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada.

• 4Designation of Minister

  The Governor in Council may, by order, designate a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the Minister for the purposes of this Act.

• 5Purpose

  The purpose of this Act is to benefit all persons, especially persons with disabilities, through the realization, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, of a Canada without barriers, on or before January 1, 2040, particularly by the identification and removal of barriers, and the prevention of new barriers, in the following areas:

• 5(a)

  employment;

• 5(b)

  the built environment;

• 5(c)

  information and communication technologies;

• 5(c.1)

  communication, other than information and communication technologies;

• 5(d)

  the procurement of goods, services and facilities;

• 5(e)

  the design and delivery of programs and services;

• 5(f)

  transportation; and

• 5(g)

  areas designated under regulations made under paragraph 117(1)(b).

• 5.1Clarification
• 5.1(1)

  The area of communication referred to in paragraph 5(c.1)

• 5.1(1)(a)

  includes the use of American Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language and Indigenous sign languages; and

• 5.1(1)(b)

  does not include broadcasting as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act or telecommunications as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act.

• 5.1(2)Recognition of sign languages

  American Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language and Indigenous sign languages are recognized as the primary languages for communication by deaf persons in Canada.

• 5.2Interpretation

  Nothing in this Act, including its purpose of the realization of a Canada without barriers, should be construed as requiring or authorizing any delay in the removal of barriers or the implementation of measures to prevent new barriers as soon as is reasonably possible.

• 6Principles

  This Act is to be carried out in recognition of, and in accordance with, the following principles:

• 6(a)

  all persons must be treated with dignity regardless of their disabilities;

• 6(b)

  all persons must have the same opportunity to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have regardless of their disabilities;

• 6(c)

  all persons must have barrier-free access to full and equal participation in society, regardless of their disabilities;

• 6(d)

  all persons must have meaningful options and be free to make their own choices, with support if they desire, regardless of their disabilities;

• 6(e)

  laws, policies, programs, services and structures must take into account the disabilities of persons, the different ways that persons interact with their environments and the multiple and intersecting forms of marginalization and discrimination faced by persons;

• 6(f)

  persons with disabilities must be involved in the development and design of laws, policies, programs, services and structures; and

• 6(g)

  the development and revision of accessibility standards and the making of regulations must be done with the objective of achieving the highest level of accessibility for persons with disabilities.

• 7Application
• 7(1)

  This Act applies to the following entities and persons:

• 7(1)(a)

  each entity named or set out in any of Schedules I to V to the Financial Administration Act;

• 7(1)(b)

  each Crown corporation, as defined in subsection 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act that is not referred to in Schedule III to that Act;

• 7(1)(c)

  every portion of the federal public administration that is designated under subsection (3);

• 7(1)(d)

  the Canadian Forces;

• 7(1)(e)

  any person, partnership or unincorporated organization that operates a work or carries on an undertaking or business that is within the legislative authority of Parliament, other than a work, undertaking or business of a local or private nature in Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut; and

• 7(1)(f)

  any entity or person — including a trustee, executor, administrator, liquidator of the succession, guardian, curator or tutor — that acts in the name of, or for the benefit of, any entity or person in the operation of a work or carrying on of an undertaking or business that is within the legislative authority of Parliament, other than a work, undertaking or business of a local or private nature in Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

• 7(2)Parliamentary entities

  This Act also applies, to the extent provided for in Part 9, to the entities referred to in the definition of parliamentary entity in section 134.

• 7(3)Designation

  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), the Governor in Council may, by order, designate any portion of the federal public administration that is not named or set out in any of Schedules I to V to the Financial Administration Act.

• 8Non-application

  Nothing in this Act applies to the Yukon Government, the Government of the Northwest Territories or the Government of Nunavut or a corporation established to perform any function or duty on behalf of any of those Governments.

• 9Canadian Forces

  Nothing in this Act is to be construed as affecting the principle of universality of service under which members of the Canadian Forces must at all times and under any circumstances perform any functions that they may be required to perform.

• 10Royal Canadian Mounted Police

  Nothing in this Act is to be construed as affecting the principle that certain physical and other qualifications are necessary for appointment under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act or to prevent the establishment of requirements that are necessary to carry out functions and duties within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

• 11Mandate
• 11(1)

  The Minister’s mandate is the realization of a Canada without barriers on or before January 1, 2040.

• 11(2)Powers

  In carrying out his or her mandate, the Minister may, among other things,

• 11(2)(a)

  provide information, advice and assistance in relation to matters relating to accessibility; and

• 11(2)(b)

  promote, support and conduct research into the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers.

• 12Minister’s powers, duties and functions

  The Minister’s powers, duties and functions extend to and include all matters relating to accessibility over which Parliament has jurisdiction and that are not by law assigned to any other Minister or to any department, board or agency of the Government of Canada.

• 13Policies, programs and projects

  The Minister may initiate, recommend, implement and promote policies, programs and projects in relation to matters relating to accessibility.

• 14Grants and contributions

  The Minister may make grants and contributions in support of the Minister’s programs and projects in relation to matters relating to accessibility.

• 15Information

  Subject to the Statistics Act, the Minister may collect, analyse, interpret, publish and distribute information in relation to matters relating to accessibility.

• 16Coordination with provincial and territorial authorities

  The Minister must make every reasonable effort to collaborate with provincial or territorial authorities with a view to coordinating efforts in relation to matters relating to accessibility.

• 17Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization
• 17(1)

  A corporation is established to be known as the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization.

• 17(2)Agent of Her Majesty

  The Standards Organization is an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada.

• 17(3)Head office

  The head office of the Standards Organization is to be at a place in Canada that is designated by the Governor in Council.

• 18Mandate

  The Standards Organization’s mandate is to contribute to the realization of a Canada without barriers, on or before January 1, 2040, through, among other things,

• 18(a)

  the development and revision of accessibility standards;

• 18(b)

  the recommendation of accessibility standards to the Minister;

• 18(c)

  the provision of information, products and services in relation to the accessibility standards that it has developed or revised;

• 18(d)

  the promotion, support and conduct of research into the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers; and

• 18(e)

  the dissemination of information, including information about best practices, in relation to the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers.

• 19Powers

  The Standards Organization, in carrying out its mandate, may

• 19(a)

  enter into contracts, agreements or other arrangements with any person or entity, including any government, in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in its own name;

• 19(b)

  make grants and contributions;

• 19(c)

  establish and register its own marks under the Trademarks Act and authorize and regulate their use subject to that Act;

• 19(d)

  license, sell or otherwise make available any patent, copyright, industrial design, trademark or other similar property right that it holds, controls or administers;

• 19(e)

  charge a fee for any accessibility standard that it develops or revises and any information, product or service that it provides under this Act;

• 19(f)

  spend any money that it receives through its activities, in the fiscal year in which the money is received or in the subsequent fiscal year;

• 19(g)

  acquire any money, securities or other personal or movable property by gift or bequest and expend, administer or dispose of the property subject to the terms, if any, on which the gift or bequest was made; and

• 19(h)

  undertake any other activities that it considers conducive to the furtherance of its mandate and the exercise of its powers.

• 20Other powers

  The Standards Organization may develop accessibility standards for — or provide any information, product or service related to accessibility standards to — any person or entity, including any government in Canada or elsewhere.

• 21Ministerial directions
• 21(1)

  The Minister may issue general directions to the Standards Organization respecting the carrying out of its mandate.

• 21(2)Non-application of Statutory Instruments Act

  The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to directions issued under subsection (1).

• 22Establishment and composition

  The Standards Organization is to have a board of directors consisting of not more than 11 directors, including a Chair and a Vice-Chair.

• 23Appointment and tenure
• 23(1)

  The directors are to be appointed by the Governor in Council to hold office on a part-time basis and during pleasure for a term of not more than four years that will ensure, to the extent possible, the end in any one year of the terms of office of not more than one half of the directors.

• 23(2)Appointment considerations

  The appointment of directors is to be made having regard to the following considerations:

• 23(2)(a)

  that at all times, as far as possible, the majority of the directors are persons with disabilities;

• 23(2)(b)

  the importance of having directors that are representative of the diversity of Canadian society; and

• 23(2)(c)

  the importance of having directors that are representative of the diversity of disabilities faced by Canadians.

• 23(3)Persons not eligible for appointment

  A person is not eligible to be appointed or to continue as a director if the person

• 23(3)(a)

  is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;

• 23(3)(b)

  is a member of the Senate or House of Commons or a member of a provincial or territorial legislature; or

• 23(3)(c)

  is employed on a full-time basis in the federal public administration or the public service of a province or territory.

• 23(4)Reappointment

  A director is eligible for reappointment in the same or another capacity.

• 24Remuneration and expenses

  A director is to be paid the remuneration that is fixed by the Governor in Council and is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses incurred while absent from their ordinary place of residence in the course of performing their duties under this Act.

• 25Benefits

  A director is deemed to be an employee for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.

• 26Role of board of directors

  The board of directors is responsible for

• 26(a)

  setting the strategic direction for the Standards Organization;

• 26(b)

  supervising and managing the Standards Organization’s activities and affairs; and

• 26(c)

  advising the Chief Executive Officer on matters relating to the Standards Organization’s mandate.

• 27By-laws
• 27(1)

  The board of directors may make by-laws respecting the carrying out of its activities and the conduct of its affairs.

• 27(2)Copy to Minister

  The board of directors must send a copy of every by-law to the Minister.

• 28Advisory and other committees

  The board of directors may, in accordance with the by-laws, appoint advisory or other committees.

• 29Role of Chair
• 29(1)

  The Chair presides over meetings of the board of directors and performs any other duties that are assigned by the board.

• 29(2)Absence or incapacity of Chair

  In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, or a vacancy in that office, the Vice-Chair acts as Chair.

• 29(3)Absence or incapacity of Chair and Vice-Chair

  In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chair and the Vice-Chair or a vacancy in both those offices, the Minister may authorize another director to act as Chair, but no director so authorized has authority to act for a term of more than 90 days without the Governor in Council’s approval.

• 30Appointment
• 30(1)

  The Chief Executive Officer of the Standards Organization is to be appointed by the Governor in Council to hold office on a full-time basis during pleasure for a term of up to five years.

• 30(2)Reappointment

  The Chief Executive Officer is eligible for reappointment.

• 30(3)Remuneration and expenses

  The Chief Executive Officer is to be paid the remuneration that is fixed by the Governor in Council and is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses incurred while absent from his or her ordinary place of work in the course of performing his or her duties under this Act.

• 30(4)Benefits

  The Chief Executive Officer is deemed to be employed in the public service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act, an employee for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.

• 31Role of Chief Executive Officer
• 31(1)

  The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the Standards Organization’s day-to-day operations.

• 31(2)Rank of deputy head

  The Chief Executive Officer has the rank and the powers of a deputy head of a department.

• 31(3)Absence or incapacity of Chief Executive Officer

  In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chief Executive Officer, or a vacancy in that office, the Minister may authorize any person to act as Chief Executive Officer, but no person so authorized has authority to act for a term of more than 90 days without the Governor in Council’s approval.

• 32Committees
• 32(1)

  The Chief Executive Officer may establish committees to assist in the development and revision of accessibility standards.

• 32(2)Public notice

  As soon as feasible after establishing a committee, the Chief Executive Officer must make the committee’s terms of reference and the names of its members available to the public.

• 33Officers and employees

  Officers and employees necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the Standards Organization are to be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.

• 34Recommended standards to be made public

  The Standards Organization must make available to the public every accessibility standard that it recommends to the Minister under paragraph 18(b).

• 35Inventions

  Despite section 9 of the Public Servants Inventions Act, the administration and control of any invention made by an employee of the Standards Organization and vested in Her Majesty by that Act, and any patent issued with respect to the invention, are vested in the Standards Organization.

• 36Duty to submit
• 36(1)

  The Standards Organization must, within three months after the end of each fiscal year, submit a report on its activities in that fiscal year to the Minister.

• 36(2)Tabling

  The Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is received by the Minister.

• 37Provision of information or advice

  The Accessibility Commissioner may provide information or advice to the Minister in respect of issues arising from the administration and enforcement of this Act.

• 38Special report
• 38(1)

  The Accessibility Commissioner may report in writing to the Minister in respect of issues arising from the administration and enforcement of this Act.

• 38(2)Publication

  The Accessibility Commissioner may, after the sixtieth day after the day on which it was provided, publish any report that he or she provided to the Minister.

• 39Annual report
• 39(1)

  The Accessibility Commissioner must, within three months after the end of each fiscal year, submit a report on his or her activities under this Act during that year to the Minister and provide the Minister of Justice with a copy of the report.

• 39(2)Contents

  The report must include

• 39(2)(a)

  information about the following in respect of the fiscal year, including their number:

• 39(2)(a)(i)

  inspections conducted under section 73,

• 39(2)(a)(ii)

  orders made under section 74,

• 39(2)(a)(iii)

  orders made under section 75,

• 39(2)(a)(iv)

  notices of violation issued under section 79, and

• 39(2)(a)(v)

  complaints filed under subsection 94(1);

• 39(2)(b)

  the Accessibility Commissioner’s observations about whether the information referred to in paragraph (a) discloses any systemic or emerging accessibility issues; and

• 39(2)(c)

  information prescribed in regulations made under subsection 117(1).

• 39(3)Tabling

  The Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is received by the Minister.

• 40Delegation to any person
• 40(1)

  Subject to subsection (2), the Accessibility Commissioner may delegate, subject to any restrictions or limitations that he or she may specify, any of his or her powers, duties and functions under this Act — other than those set out in sections 37 to 39, 76, 82, 84, 93, 95 to 103 and 110 and subsections 140(5), (7) and (8) and the power to delegate under this subsection and subsection (2) — to any person, other than the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

• 40(2)Delegation to member or staff of Commission

  The Accessibility Commissioner may delegate, subject to any restrictions or limitations that he or she may specify, any of his or her powers, duties and functions under sections 93 and 95 to 103 to another member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission — other than the Chief Commissioner — or to a member of the staff of that Commission.

• 40(3)Consultation

  The Accessibility Commissioner must consult with the Chief Commissioner before delegating any power, duty or function to a member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

• 40(4)Certificate of delegation — subsection (1)

  Each person to whom powers, duties or functions are delegated under subsection (1) must be provided with a certificate of delegation in the form established by the Accessibility Commissioner and, if the person enters any place under subsection 73(1), the person must, on request, produce the certificate to the occupant or person in charge of the place.

• 40(5)Certificate of delegation — subsection (2)

  Each person to whom powers, duties or functions are delegated under subsection (2) must be provided with a certificate of delegation in the form established by the Accessibility Commissioner and, if the person enters any place under subsection 73(1) or paragraph 98(d), the person must, on request, produce the certificate to the occupant or person in charge of the place.

• 41Immunity

  No action or other proceeding of a civil nature lies against the Accessibility Commissioner, or any person acting on behalf or under the direction of the Accessibility Commissioner, in respect of anything that is done or omitted to be done in good faith while exercising their powers or performing their duties and functions under this Act.

• 42Initial accessibility plan
• 42(1)

  A regulated entity that carries on a broadcasting undertaking must, before the expiry of one year after the day fixed or determined by regulations made under subsection 45(1) that apply to that regulated entity, prepare and publish, in accordance with this Act and regulations made under that subsection, an accessibility plan respecting

• 42(1)(a)

  its policies, programs, practices and services in relation to the identification and removal of barriers, and the prevention of new barriers, in the areas referred to in paragraphs 5(c), (d) and (e), the area referred to in paragraph 5(c.1) as it relates to the areas referred to in paragraphs (d) and (e) and, if it is not subject to the Employment Equity Act, employment equity;

• 42(1)(b)

  the conditions imposed on the regulated entity under section 9.1 of the Broadcasting Act that relate to the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers;

• 42(1)(c)

  the provisions of any order made under subsection 9(4) of that Act that relate to the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers and that apply to the regulated entity; and

• 42(1)(d)

  the provisions of any regulations made under subsection 10(1) of that Act that relate to the identification and removal of barriers and the prevention of new barriers and that apply to the regulated entity.

• 42(2)Updated accessibility plan

  The regulated entity must prepare and publish, in accordance with this Act and regulations made under subsection 45(1), an updated version of its accessibility plan no later than the third anniversary of the day on which the plan was last published or before the expiry of the applicable period prescribed by regulations made under that subsection.

• 42(3)Notice to Commission

  The regulated entity must notify the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, within the time and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under subsection 45(1), of the publication of every version of its accessibility plan.

• 42(4)Duty to consult

  The regulated entity must consult persons with disabilities in the preparation of its accessibility plan and every updated version of its accessibility plan.

• 42(5)Manner of consultation

  The accessibility plan must set out the manner in which the regulated entity consulted persons with disabilities in the preparation of the plan.

• 42(6)Applicable requirements

  The accessibility plan need not address a requirement that applies to the regulated entity and that is set out in a condition, order or regulation referred to in paragraphs (1)(b) to (d) unless the requirement has been in force at least three months before the day on which the accessibility plan must be published.

• 42(7)Duty to make plan available on request

  If a person makes a request in accordance with subsection (8), the regulated entity must, within the time prescribed by regulations made under subsection 45(1), make its accessibility plan available to the person in the format prescribed by regulations made under that subsection that is indicated in the request.

• 42(8)Conditions

  The request must be made in the form and manner prescribed by regulations made under subsection 45(1) and must indicate the format prescribed by regulations made under that subsection in which the accessibility plan is to be made available to the person making the request.

• 42(9)Principles

  The regulated entity must take into account the principles set out in section 6 when it prepares an accessibility plan or an updated version of its accessibility plan.

• 43Establishment of process
• 43(1)

  A regulated entity referred to in subsection 42(1) must establish a process for receiving feedback about the following and for dealing with that feedback:

• 43(1)(a)

  the manner in which the regulated entity is implementing its accessibility plan; and

• 43(1)(b)

  the barriers encountered by persons that deal with the regulated entity.

• 43(2)Publication

  The regulated entity must publish a description of its process in accordance with regulations made under subsection 45(1).

• 43(3)Notice to Commission

  The regulated entity must notify the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, within the time and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under subsection 45(1), of the publication of the description of every version of its process.

• 44Obligation
• 44(1)

  A regulated entity referred to in subsection 42(1) must prepare and publish, in accordance with this Act and regulations made under subsection 45(1), a progress report respecting its implementation of its accessibility plan.

• 44(2)Notice to Commission

  The regulated entity must notify the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, within the time and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under subsection 45(1), of the publication of its progress report.

• 44(3)Duty to consult

  The regulated entity must consult persons with disabilities in the preparation of its progress report.

• 44(4)Manner of consultation

  The progress report must set out the manner in which the regulated entity consulted persons with disabilities in the preparation of its progress report.

• 44(5)Feedback information

  The progress report must set out information concerning the feedback received by the regulated entity through its feedback process and how that feedback was taken into consideration.

• 44(6)Duty to make progress report available on request

  If a person makes a request in accordance with subsection (7), the regulated entity must, within the time prescribed by regulations made under subsection 45(1), make its progress report available to the person in the format prescribed by regulations made under that subsection that is indicated in the request.

• 44(7)Conditions

  The request must be made in the form and manner prescribed by regulations made under subsection 45(1) and must indicate the format prescribed by regulations made under that subsection in which the progress report is to be made available to the person making the request.

• 45Regulations
• 45(1)

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission may make regulations

• 45(1)(a)

  fixing or determining, for the purposes of subsection 42(1), a day in respect of a regulated entity;

• 45(1)(b)

  specifying the form in which accessibility plans required by subsections 42(1) and (2) are to be prepared and the manner in which they are to be published;

• 45(1)(b.1)

  respecting the feedback process required by subsection 43(1);

• 45(1)(c)

  specifying the form and manner in which descriptions of the feedback process required by subsection 43(1) are to be published;

• 45(1)(d)

  specifying the form in which progress reports required by subsection 44(1) are to be prepared and the time and manner in which they are to be published; and

• 45(1)(e)

  prescribing anything that is to be prescribed by any of subsections 42(3), (7) and (8), 43(3) and 44(2), (6) and (7).

• 45(1.1)Obligation

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission must make at least one regulation under subsection (1) within the period of two years that begins on the day on which this subsection comes into force.

• 45(2)Distinguishing — classes

  Regulations made under subsection (1) may distinguish among different classes of regulated entities.

• 46Power to exempt
• 46(1)

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission may, by order, exempt any regulated entity or class of regulated entities from the application of all or any part of sections 42 to 44, on any terms that the Commission considers necessary. The order ceases to have effect on the earlier of the end of the period of three years that begins on the day on which the order is made and the end of any shorter period specified in the order.

• 46(2)Non-application of Statutory Instruments Act

  The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to an order made under subsection (1) in respect of a regulated entity, but the order must be published in the Canada Gazette and the reasons for the making of the order must be made available to the public.

• 47Initial accessibility plan
• 47(1)

  A regulated entity referred to in subsection 42(1) must, before the expiry of one year after the day fixed or determined by regulations made under subsection 117(1) that apply to that regulated entity, prepare and publish, in accordance with this Act and regulations made under subsection 117(1), an accessibility plan respecting

• 47(1)(a)

  its policies, programs, practices and services in relation to the identification and removal of barriers, and the prevention of new barriers, in the areas referred to in paragraphs 5(a), (b), (f) and (g) and in the area referred to in paragraph 5(c.1) as that paragraph applies in respect of the areas referred to in those paragraphs; and

• 47(1)(b)

  the provisions of regulations made under subsection 117(1) that apply to it.

• 47(2)Updated accessibility plan

  The regulated entity must prepare and publish, in accordance with this Act and regulations made under subsection 117(1), an updated version of its accessibility plan no later than the third anniversary of the day on which the plan was last published or before the expiry of the applicable period prescribed by regulations made under that subsection.

• 47(3)Notice to Accessibility Commissioner

  The regulated entity must notify the Accessibility Commissioner, within the time and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under subsection 117(1), of the publication of every version of its accessibility plan.

• 47(4)Duty to consult

  The regulated entity must consult persons with disabilities in the preparation of its accessibility plan and every updated version of its accessibility plan.

• 47(5)Manner of consultation

  The accessibility plan must set out the manner in which the regulated entity consulted persons with disabilities in the preparation of the plan.

• 47(6)Applicable requirements

  The accessibility plan need not address a requirement that applies to the regulated entity and that is set out in regulations made under subsection 117(1) unless the requirement has been in force at least three months before the day on which the accessibility plan must be published.