Forward Regulatory Plan: 2024 to 2026 - Small Transportation Service Providers - Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations

Enabling act(s)

Canada Transportation Act

Description

The Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR), published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on July 10, 2019, represent a significant advancement in ensuring the accessibility of the federal transportation network.

Small transportation service providers (TSPs) are not covered by them and the proposed regulations aim to establishing legally binding requirements in respect of services, communications, training, and technical standards for equipment tailored to small TSPs, many of which operate in regional, remote, and northern areas.

The CTA’s objective is to pursue consultations and to develop regulations for small TSPs by 2026.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

Similar to the ATPDR, new regulatory measures on accessibility will help Canada meet its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

The proposed regulations could extend certain elements of the current ATPDR to small carriers, including those in northern, regional and remote areas of Canada taking into consideration their unique operating circumstances or infrastructure.

The impact on Canadians is expected to be positive, as these proposed regulations will help reduce barriers to the mobility of the person with disabilities in the transportation system.

Consultations

In 2023, the CTA has held a series of discussions and visits to regional, remote and northern areas, with persons with disabilities and small TSPs in all modes of transportation. The purpose of these site visits was to learn about the accessibility and operations of small TSPs.

The knowledge acquired will support the development of the pre-consultations, which are expected to take place in 2024, followed by pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2025.

Departmental contact

Sonia Gangopadhyay
Director, Centre of Expertise for Accessible Transportation
Analysis and Outreach Branch
Canadian Transportation Agency
Sonia.Gangopadhyay@otc-cta.gc.ca

Date that the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan

September 2020