2023 Accessibility Progress Report

Since December 31, 2022, the Accessibility feedback process at the Canadian Transportation Agency page has been posted on the CTA website.

As of December 31, 2022, the CTA website displays the following pages: Accessibility at the Canadian Transportation Agency and Accessibility feedback process at the Canadian Transportation Agency.

As the CTA developed its priorities for 2023–2024, the Accessibility Advisory Committee was consulted in spring 2023 to gather information on the key accessibility issues facing their members. The CTA will continue to work with working groups as needed to gather input on specific issues.

With regard to the development of a possible new transportation accessibility regulation for small transportation service providers, the CTA convened a working group of representatives from the disability community and the transportation sector to develop a consultation plan to ensure a thorough consultation process. This consultation plan was then shared with the entire CTA Accessibility Advisory Committee for further feedback. 

Finally, once the consultation plan had been drawn up, CTA employees, accompanied by representatives of the disabled community, organized a series of meetings and visits to gain knowledge of the operations and current accessibility practices of small transportation service providers.

All CTA job postings on the Government of Canada Jobs site include the following message:

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

From the CTA intranet and website, employees have access to the link to the various employment opportunities within the Government of Canada.

By 2024, the CTA will add a statement to its "Careers" page to encourage all under-represented groups to apply. This statement will also include specific mention of accommodation needs.

The CTA Staffing Framework is a constantly evolving document. It is therefore updated whenever changes are required. Specific wording concerning persons with disabilities will be added in early 2024. The current Staffing Framework specifies that, while managers exercise sub-delegated authorities, their decisions related to staffing will be made in a matter that “adheres to the letter and spirit of the Agency's people management initiatives, particularly the Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion action plan and ensures that every effort is made to address gaps.” In addition, the Framework states that all managers must undergo mandatory training on inclusive hiring.

As of April 2022, CTA managers are required to complete the CSPS Inclusive Hiring Practices for a Diverse Workforce training. The Framework does not have specific language regarding persons with disabilities, but refers to the TBS Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service, as well as the CTA's Employment Equity Policy.

CTA managers are required to take the CSPS Inclusive Hiring Practices for a Diverse Workforce training. In addition, on the CTA intranet page dedicated to various internal and external accessibility resources, managers can find a link to the GCpedia page on Government of Canada accessibility training and events. To upgrade this objective, the CTA's goal for 2024 will be to update its list of mandatory training for all CTA employees to include optional and mandatory training on accessibility.

The CTA wishes to broaden this objective by ensuring that accessibility features are activated on all meeting platforms at the CTA, and not by limiting these to in-house training.

Since 2020, the office has been using Zoom software to facilitate its monthly all-staff and stakeholder meetings. This software offers a multitude of accessibility parameters, thus eliminating certain accessibility barriers.

In March 2021, the CTA also launched Microsoft Teams for all its employees. This includes the option of captioning. CTA employees can also visit the “Accessibility Resources” page on the intranet site to find guides and best practices for accessible and inclusive meetings.

In November 2023, the CTA began migrating to Microsoft Office 365. This model makes the CTA's business environment more inclusive thanks to its many accessibility features.

To provide an even more accessible and inclusive work environment, the CTA worked with the Rick Hansen Foundation to design and build 60 Laval Street. In March 2023, all requirements for GOLD certification were met, and certification was received in November 2023.

CTA employees can provide feedback on the functioning of the workplace's office spaces using the Accessibility Feedback Form on the CTA website. The President's Office Suggestion Box is another anonymous platform where employees can provide general feedback on the workplace.

In 2023, the CTA's Occupational Health and Safety Committee added a section on accessibility-related hazards to its facility inspection form. This means that members of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, when inspecting workspaces at 60 Laval Street, will also pay particular attention to possible hazards for persons with disabilities, with a view to removing barriers.

The CTA has a process in place so that employees can be accommodated when reserving a room or workstation. A statement is posted on our “Book a Conference Room or a Workpoint” intranet page. This informs employees that they can contact a member of their team or the facilities team for support in making a reservation.

Since last year, the IT helpdesk has established links with various key departments, including Shared Services Canada’s Accessibility, Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT—Government of Canada experts in accessible technology), CTA labour relations, CTA Facilities and internal IT departments, including application, infrastructure and security services, to put a resolution process in place. When an IT accessibility request is initiated, an internal process is put in place to obtain the necessary approvals from human resources, IT and facilities, depending on the nature of the request. If the request requires immediate attention, it may be escalated for priority handling. Throughout this process, the requestor is kept informed by follow-up services or direct communication from the IT helpdesk.

The CTA will continue to improve the accessibility of the CTA service request function in myCTA, an internal service portal. Committed to achieving full accessibility by 2025, the CTA meets the diverse needs of its employees, including those with disabilities, by offering alternative channels of assistance. People can reach the IT helpdesk directly via traditional telephone lines or via Teams, ensuring access to a wide range of support options.

AAACT is also available to offer specific support to employees when needed. The CTA also ensures that all mandatory accessibility courses have been taken by IT department employees.

In November 2023, the CTA began migrating to Microsoft Office 365. This model makes the CTA's business environment more inclusive thanks to its many accessibility features.

In accordance with the Web Accessibility Statement, revised in December 2023, the CTA follows the Government of Canada's Standard on Web Accessibility and integrates accessibility features. The CTA uses features such as the screen reader (voice synthesizer), videos in ASL (American Sign Language) and in Langue des signes québécoise to ensure the publication of accessible formats.

The Web Accessibility Statement is available to the public on the CTA website.

In January 2023, the Workforce and Workplace Services Directorate implemented a process to verify the accessibility of its internal documents. CTA employees are also encouraged to use the internal and external tools provided on our intranet site to ensure that their new documents meet accessibility criteria.

In 2023, the CTA published an accessibility resource page on its intranet site that includes links to the TBS CIO Digital Accessibility Toolkit, the Sharing Space and the CTA's personalized templates for creating accessible documents.

The CTA has prioritized the review of pre-existing public documents and published them in accessible HTML and PDF on the public website. For all other pre-existing documents, the CTA offers a procedure for requesting an accessible alternative format on its website, in accordance with the terms and conditions and the Web Accessibility Statement.

By 2024, mandatory in-house training for CTA employees will be revised to reflect the CTA's accessibility mandate.

Over the past few months, the Communications team has been working to make the CTA intranet site more accessible.

The CTA has an intranet page dedicated to accessibility resources. Several links, documents and important information on accessibility are available for employees to consult, including accessible MS‑Word and PowerPoint templates, as well as best practices and tips.

The CTA has published on its public website instructions on how persons with disabilities can submit accessibility complaints about transportation services. There is also an accessible transportation complaints help line. The CTA has also listed accommodations in its Web Accessibility Statement for alternate formats.

The CTA has published on its public website instructions on how persons with disabilities can submit accessibility complaints about transportation services. There is also an accessible transportation complaints help line. The CTA has also listed accommodations in its Web Accessibility Statement for alternate formats.

The following excerpt from section 1.6 Accessibility criteria has been added to the CTA Statement of Work template:

The purpose of the Accessible Canada Act is to achieve the full and equal participation of all persons, especially persons with disabilities, in society. This is to be achieved through the realization, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, of a Canada without barriers, particularly by the identification, removal and prevention of barriers.

In accordance with the Treasury Board Contracting Policy and the Accessible Canada Act, federal departments and agencies must take accessibility criteria and features into account when purchasing goods or services.