In June 2021, the provincial government passed the Accessible BC Act in an effort increase accessibility in BC and remove barriers for persons with disabilities.
Local governments are among over 750 public sector organizations listed in the Accessible BC Regulation and are required by September 1, 2023 to establish:
These requirements are intended to get organizations planning for accessibility in a way that is informed by people with disabilities. The provincial government has advised that the requirements are flexible and that there are several ways that local governments will be considered compliant with the requirements.
To support local governments, the Province and the Disability Alliance of BC have created a guidance document that provides information about the requirements, shares resources, offers strategies to comply, and highlights current funding opportunities.
