On June 17, 2021, the BC Legislature passed the Accessible
British Columbia Act (the "Act") into law. The Act
will create new responsibilities for organizations.
What Does the Act Do?
The Act allows the provincial government to establish
"accessibility standards" aimed at identifying, removing
and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion. A
"barrier" is defined as "anything that hinders the
full and equal participation in society of a person with an
impairment".
Development of Accessibility Standards
An accessibility standard is a rule that government and
organizations must follow to remove barriers in a specific
sector.
The government may establish accessibility standards in a range
of sectors, including employment, delivery of services, the built
environment, information and communications, transportation,
health, education, and procurement, among others.
