FACTSHEET  

Accessible Canada Act

Summary for Video #3: 
How Accessibility Regulations are Made 

What is this video about?
This is the third video in this series. This video is about how you can take part in the process for making accessibility regulations. Accessibility regulations (or rules) give more specific details about parts of the Accessible Canada Act.  
This video explains how to find out about accessibility regulations. The video discusses what parts of the regulation making process you can take part in. In the video, we give tips on how you can contribute. We also tell you what happens after you have given input about an accessibility rule.
People with disabilities and Deaf people may also want to get involved when the Government of Canada, the Agency or the CRTC make other regulations. Even though these regulations are not about accessibility, they often have important impacts on disability communities. The information in this video will help you to understand how to get involved when these other regulations are made.
What are 5 important points covered in this video?
•	The Accessible Canada Act says that the Government of Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency, and the CRTC can each make accessibility regulations. You can find more information about the Act and its regulations in the first video in this series. 
•	There are two ways to take part when the Government or the Canadian Transportation Agency makes new regulations. The first is the pre-consultation stage. This is where the Government or the Agency asks for input on its ideas and goals for the regulation. The second is the public comment stage. This is where the Government or the Agency has written a draft of the regulation. They ask for input on the language and rules in the draft regulation. 
The CRTC uses a slightly different process to make regulations and regulatory policies. This process is more like a court or a tribunal. You can give input on the goals of the regulation at the policymaking stage. You can comment on the draft regulation as well. 
•	You can check certain websites to find out when the Government, the Agency, or the CRTC is working on new regulations. You can also find out when it is time for you to contribute. Giving input is one way that you can share your experiences and knowledge. It is a way to educate people about everyday barriers that you or your community experience. This may help to get regulations that make a real difference for people with disabilities and Deaf people.
•	You can ask for disability accommodations if you need them to give input about regulations that are being made. You can ask for what you need to give input in an accessible way. For example, you can ask for more time to give your input.
•	After a consultation on a regulation, the Government, Agency or CRTC will consider the input people have given. There may be a summary. Or the input may be published or put online. The input may be used to make changes to the regulation or to study it further. Or the input may go into voluntary guidance documents. These will help businesses and organizations understand how to follow the regulation. Businesses and organizations can choose to follow these guidance documents if they want to. 
Looking for information about regulations that the Government of Canada is working on?
•	To find out about the Government of Canada’s pre-consultations, go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/consultations/consultingcanadians.html 
•	To find out about draft regulations, go to Part I of the Canada Gazette. The Canada Gazette is the official newspaper of the federal government: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/accueil-home-eng.html

Looking for information about regulations that the Canadian Transportation Agency is working on? 
•	The Agency posts pre-consultations on its website: https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/consultations 
•	To find out about draft regulations, go to Part I of the Canada Gazette: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/accueil-home-eng.html  
o	The Agency may also post these consultations on its website.
•	The Agency may also consult with its Accessibility Advisory Committee: https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/accessibility-advisory-committee
Looking for information about regulations that the CRTC is working on?
•	The CRTC tells the public when it makes regulations. It does this by posting a notice of consultation on its website: 
https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/instances-proceedings/Default-Defaut.aspx?S=O&PA=A&PT=A&PST=A&Lang=eng&_ga=2.143246704.472195863.1605034957-1535597458.1596122617
o	This website also lists other processes at the CRTC. People with disabilities and Deaf people may want to take part in these as well. For example, the CRTC makes regulatory policies. 
•	To access the CRTC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, go to: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/nrpp.htm?_ga=2.250509454.92109518.1610040990-1535597458.1596122617 
o	The CRTC has made Guidelines that talk about how these rules work. These Guidelines can help members of the public understand how to participate at the CRTC: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-959.htm#z1 
•	The CRTC also has sign language videos. Some of these videos talk about how the CRTC makes regulations. They explain how people can get involved: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLveC0lFjXENLMOSzQ3alwSrR4RuvJaRE 
o	Transcript: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/transcript.htm 
Looking for general information about how the Government of Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency make regulations? 
•	To access more information on regulations, go to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation. It explains how the Government of Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency make regulations. The Cabinet Directive includes some of the steps that happen inside the Government and the Agency. It also includes the steps when the public can get involved: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/requirements-developing-managing-reviewing-regulations/guidelines-tools/cabinet-directive-regulation.html
•	To access the Government of Canada’s Guide to Making Federal Acts and Regulations, go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/services/publications/guide-making-federal-acts-regulations.html 
For more information
ARCH offers public legal education presentations and free, confidential summary legal advice about the ACA and other accessibility laws to persons with disabilities in Ontario. Contact ARCH for more information about these services.

*  The information provided in these materials is not intended to be legal advice. Consult a lawyer or legal worker if you need legal advice on a specific matter. This information is current as of April 2021.
Tel.: 416-482-8255; Toll-free: 1-866-482-2724
TTY: 416-482-1254; Toll-free: 1-866-482- 2728
www.archdisabilitylaw.ca