Who handles disability & accessibility?
Disability & Accessibility
Disability policy spans all levels. Federal sets national accessibility standards, provinces deliver disability benefits and provincial accessibility laws, and municipalities ensure local accessibility.
⚠️ Shared Jurisdiction: This area involves multiple levels of government. The information below shows the primary responsibility at each level, but overlap is common. When in doubt, start with the level most directly related to your issue.
Federal
Parliament of Canada
- ● Accessible Canada Act (federal accessibility standards)
- ● CPP-Disability benefit
- ● Disability Tax Credit
- ● Canada Disability Benefit
💡 Example: Apply for CPP-D or the Disability Tax Credit through Service Canada or CRA.
Provincial
Provincial Legislature
- ● Provincial disability support programs (e.g., ODSP in Ontario, AISH in Alberta, PWD in BC, Solidarité sociale in Quebec)
- ● Provincial accessibility legislation (e.g., AODA in Ontario, AMA in Manitoba, accessibility acts in other provinces)
- ● Disability-related healthcare services
- ● Assistive devices programs
💡 Example: Contact your provincial disability support program, or your MPP/MLA about accessibility standards.
Municipal
City / Town Hall
- ● Accessible transit (ParaTranspo, Wheel-Trans, HandyDART, etc.)
- ● Municipal building accessibility
- ● Disability parking permits
- ● Local accessibility advisory committees
💡 Example: Contact your municipal accessibility office, or your councillor about local accessibility improvements.
Quick Reference — Who to Contact
🏛️ Federal
Your Member of Parliament (MP)
🏢 Provincial
Your MPP, MLA, or MNA
🏘️ Municipal
Your City Councillor
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