Understanding and complying with accessibility laws is essential for all businesses, non-profits, public sector, municipalities, educational institutions, and community groups.
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The Federal Government passed Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act: An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada. Beyond reducing barriers, creating a more inclusive society, and improving service delivery, compliance with accessibility laws is important due to possible enforcement consequences such as steep fines, public reporting of non-compliance, or criminal charges. 

Federal Accessibility Laws
​​According to their website, the Government of Canada is striving to create a more accessible Canada by creating new legislation which will allow people to more fully participate and contribute in our communities and workplaces without barriers. These barriers limit the social, political and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities across Canada. The legislation should apply to all areas under the control of the Government of Canada including:

• buses, ferries or air travel across provincial and international borders
• the broadcasting and telecommunication sectors
• the banking and financial sectors
• federal lands, including parks and First Nation reserves
• the Government of Canada as an employer, service provider, builder and buyer

Provincial Accessibility Laws - Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia's government has moved forward with its promise to help make Nova Scotia a more accessible and inclusive place to live and work. Bill 59, which is now law.
Its purpose is intended to:
A) Achieve accessibility by preventing and removing barriers that disable people with respect to:

• the delivery and receipt of goods and services
• information and communication
• public transportation and transportation infrastructure
• employment and education
• the built environment
• a prescribed activity or undertaking

B) Provide for the involvement of persons with disabilities, the public sector and other stakeholders in the development of accessibility standards
C) Facilitate the timely implementation of accessibility standards with a goal of achieving an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030
D) Monitor, review and enforce compliance with accessibility standards
E) Establish an Accessibility Directorate that is responsible for supporting accessibility   initiatives and advancing broader disability-related issues.  

Access by Design: 2030

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National Building Code
Requirements for assistive listening compliance are also prepared under a National Building Code (2014). Provinces that use the National Building Code are Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and all three Territories. The National Building Code requires that assembly rooms, classrooms, auditoria, theatres, and meeting rooms greater than 100 square metres will have an assistive listening system. Signage is also required to identify the availability of assistive devices in both official languages.
CLICK HERE to access the National Building Code of Canada: 2020.