Accessibility
Compliance
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act is provincial law, with accessibility standards acting as regulations under the law.
The Manitoba Accessibility Compliance Secretariat promotes, monitors, and enforces accessibility regulations. Accessibility involves the identification, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities.
About the Accessibility
Compliance Secretariat
Manitoba's Accessibility Compliance Secretariat makes sure that the private, non-profit and the public sector which includes municipalities, follow accessibility legislation.
Accessibility Compliance Secretariat
Affected Organizations,
Requirements, & Deadlines
Accessibility standards are the building blocks of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. As each standard is passed in the Manitoba Legislature, there are new requirements and deadlines for affected organizations, including businesses.
- Private sector organizations or businesses include Manitoba businesses and organizations with one or more employees, such as shops, restaurants, hotels, legal, healthcare and professional services.
- Non-profit organizations include different organizations like charities, unions, community organizations, places of worship, and member associations.
- Public sector organizations include organizations that are connected to the government, including Crown corporations, regional health authorities, school divisions, post-secondary institutions, large municipalities* and government agencies, boards and commissions.
*Large municipalities include Manitoba's 10 largest municipalities, as defined by the province as cities. These include Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, Thompson, Winkler and Winnipeg.
Accessible Customer Service Standard Deadline
The Accessible Customer Service Standard is the first regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
This standard came into force for all organizations on
November 1, 2018
Accessible Employment Standard Deadline
The Accessible Employment Standard is the second regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
Requirements under this standard has been in force for all organizations since
May 1, 2022
Accessible Information and Communication Standard Deadline
The Accessible Information and Communication Standard is the third regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
Manitoba Government:
May 1, 2023
Public sector organizations, government agencies and large municipalities:
May 1, 2024
Private and non-profit organizations and small municipalities:
May 1, 2025
Accessible Transportation Standard Deadline
The Accessible Transportation Standard is the fourth regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
Conventional transportation providers, Paratransit providers, Municipalities, Schools and Vehicles-for-hire must comply by January 1, 2027, with exception that conventional transit operators who have until January 1, 2042 to upgrade existing buses to meet physical accessibility requirements. Any new buses purchased after January 1, 2027 will have to meet accessible design requirements.
Accessible Design of Outdoor Public Spaces Standard Deadline
The Accessible Design of Outdoor Public Spaces Standard is currently in development. Check back for Compliance deadlines.
Accessibility Plans: Deadlines for Public Sector Organizations
According to The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, accessibility plans must be developed, updated and made publicly available by the following organizations:
- Small Municipalities - An updated plan for 2024 and 2025 is due on December 31, 2023
- Manitoba government - An updated accessibility plan for 2023 and 2024 was due on December 31, 2022
- Public sector organizations, including school divisions and large municipalities - An updated accessibility plan for 2023 and 2024 was due on December 31, 2022
- Private and non-profit organizations: It is best practice to have an accessibility plan, but not required under the legislation
Accessibility Compliance Framework
The Accessibility Compliance Secretariat works with organizations across Manitoba to raise awareness about accessibility and to enforce legislative and regulatory requirements.
Some accessibility requirements vary across sectors and by the size of an organization. Some sectors also have additional time to comply with the accessibility standards.
An compliance framework document describes the different steps involved in the compliance process. The first priority is to educate towards compliance. The Manitoba government is also working with partners in the public, non-profit and private sectors to inform organizations about the legislation, share practical tools and resources, and provide training. The goal is to promote a cultural shift toward a more accessible Manitoba, so everyone can benefit.
What do I do if an organization is not complying?
If you believe an organization is not following the legislation, you can contact the secretariat to talk about your concern. Each complaint is reviewed by staff. The information gathered from complaints determines what action the secretariat will take, based on the compliance framework. Details from complaints are recorded and used to identify trends that inform compliance and awareness raising efforts. For more information about the complaints process, please visit:
Compliance Process
For more information, contact the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat at accessibilitycompliance@gov.mb.ca or (204) 792-0263.
