Consultation on accessibility regulations for digital technologies - Phase 2
Current status: Planned
Phase 2 early engagement
The Government of Canada is conducting targeted early engagement to support the development of Phase 2 accessibility regulations for digital technologies.
Phase 2 is exploring accessibility barriers and considerations related to more complex and emerging technologies, including:
- artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including automated decision-making systems
- software
- hardware
- emerging and evolving technologies that may create new accessibility barriers
Selected stakeholders and partners are being invited to provide feedback on these areas.
Feedback gathered through this early engagement will help inform the development of draft Phase 2 regulations under the Accessible Canada Act. Draft regulations would then be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, providing an opportunity for everyone in Canada to review and comment.
Who we are engaging
The Government of Canada is inviting selected:
- disability organizations
- Indigenous partners
- federal public sector organizations
- federally regulated private sector organizations
- industry associations
- digital technology vendors and suppliers
Key topics for discussion
Invited participants will be asked for their views on:
- accessibility considerations related to software, hardware, and AI systems
- emerging accessibility issues and technologies
- accessibility standards and approaches that could inform potential regulatory requirements
- implementation considerations related to potential accessibility requirements
Backgrounders
Digital accessibility is a complex and evolving topic. To support meaningful participation in this engagement process, the Government of Canada has developed a series of backgrounders that provide information on key concepts, standards, and emerging issues in ICT accessibility.
These backgrounders provide additional information to support participation in this early engagement and the future consultation on draft regulations published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
Available backgrounders:
- Backgrounder 1 - Digital Technologies Accessibility Regulations: Accessibility barriers, benefits and priorities for action
- Backgrounder 2 - Digital Technologies Accessibility Regulations: Current conformance with accessibility standards
- Backgrounder 3 - Artificial intelligence (AI), accessibility and standards
What we learned during Phase 1
Phase 1 engagement took place between 2022 and 2023 and sought broad input on digital accessibility barriers. Through this engagement, the disability community identified priority areas for regulatory action.
Feedback from persons with disabilities, disability organizations, industry stakeholders, digital technology vendors and suppliers, and federally regulated entities helped inform the development of the first Digital Technologies Accessibility Regulations under the Accessible Canada Act.
The first regulations, published in the Canada Gazette Part I on December 17, 2025, established accessibility requirements for:
- webpages, including web applications
- mobile applications
- digital (non-web) documents
What happens next
Following the engagement period, the Government of Canada will review the feedback received and prepare a What we Learned report.
Feedback from the early engagement, together with ongoing policy and technical analysis, will help inform the development of draft Phase 2 regulations under the Accessible Canada Act. The draft regulations would then be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, providing an opportunity for everyone in Canada to review and comment before regulations are finalized.
Related information
- Accessibility regulations for information and communication technologies: What we heard
- Glossary of terms
- Summary version of the consultation
Contact us
Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Directorate
Employment and Social Development Canada
1st Floor
105 De l'Hôtel-de-Ville Street
Gatineau QC J8X 4H7
Email: EDSC.LCA.REGLEMENTS-REGULATIONS.ACA.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca
Privacy notice statement
Please read our privacy notice statement for consultation and engagement activities.