What Should a Barrier-Free Canada Look Like by 2040?

Official title: Consultation on the Accessible Canada Roadmap

Closed Policy & Studies Health & Safety Justice & Rights
The federal government asked Canadians to help shape a national roadmap for accessibility. The goal? Remove barriers for people with disabilities in workplaces, services, and public spaces by 2040. This consultation gathered input on what that vision should include and how to get there.

Why This Matters

One in five Canadians has a disability. That's your neighbour, your coworker, maybe you. This roadmap will shape how accessible buildings, websites, workplaces, and services become over the next 15 years. If you've ever struggled with a broken elevator, an unreadable website, or a workplace that couldn't accommodate you, this affects your daily life.

What Could Change

The final roadmap will guide federal accessibility standards and priorities until 2040. New regulations could require better accessibility in federally regulated workplaces, transportation, and digital services. Government funding and programs may be realigned to match the roadmap's priorities.

Key Issues

  • What should a barrier-free Canada look like by 2040?
  • How can different sectors work together to advance accessibility?
  • What priorities should guide the national accessibility roadmap?

How to Participate

  1. This consultation is now closed. It ran from September 27, 2024 to January 15, 2025. Participants could read the discussion paper and provide feedback through an online engagement tool, by email to accessible.canada.directorate-direction.canada.accessible@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca, by video relay service in ASL or LSQ, or by mail.

What Happened

The consultation closed on January 15, 2025. The government gathered feedback through multiple channels including an online engagement tool, email, video relay service for sign language users, and mail. The input will be used to finalize the Accessible Canada Roadmap.