Website accessibility is not just a nice-to-have — in Canada, it is increasingly a legal requirement. And even where the law does not explicitly mandate it, inaccessible websites exclude potential customers and create legal risk. Here is what Calgary businesses need to know in 2026.
The legal landscape in Canada
Federal: Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
The Accessible Canada Act (2019) applies to federally regulated organizations (banks, telecoms, transportation, government). It requires accessibility plans and progress reporting. While it does not directly regulate most small businesses, it signals the direction of Canadian policy.
Ontario: AODA
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is the most comprehensive provincial law. It requires all Ontario businesses with 50+ employees to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA for their websites. If you do business in Ontario (even from Calgary), this may apply to you.
Alberta: what's coming
Alberta passed the Accessibility Act (Bill 1) in 2023, with accessibility standards still being developed. Web accessibility standards are expected. Calgary businesses should prepare now rather than scramble later.
WCAG 2.1: the standard everyone references
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA is the international standard that Canadian laws reference. It is organized around four principles:
- Perceivable: Content can be perceived by all users (alt text, captions, sufficient contrast)
- Operable: Interface can be operated by all users (keyboard navigation, no seizure triggers)
- Understandable: Content and UI are understandable (clear language, consistent navigation)
- Robust: Content works with assistive technologies (proper HTML, ARIA labels)
Practical accessibility checklist for your website
You do not need to be an accessibility expert to start. Focus on these high-impact items:
- Images: Every image has descriptive alt text (not "image1.jpg")
- Color contrast: Text meets minimum contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
- Keyboard navigation: All interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are accessible via Tab key
- Form labels: Every form field has a visible, associated label
- Headings: Use proper heading hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3), not just styled text
- Link text: Links say what they do ("Read our pricing guide" not "Click here")
- Video captions: All video content has captions or transcripts
- Focus indicators: Visible focus outlines on interactive elements (do not remove with CSS)
Common accessibility mistakes on Calgary business websites
- Low contrast text (light gray on white is the most common offender)
- Missing alt text on images
- Navigation that only works with a mouse (hover menus without keyboard support)
- Auto-playing video or audio without controls
- PDF documents that are not tagged for screen readers
- "Click here" or "Read more" links without context
The business case (beyond compliance)
Accessibility improvements also benefit your business directly:
- SEO: Accessible sites rank better. Alt text, headings, and semantic HTML are SEO fundamentals.
- Wider audience: 22 percent of Canadians have a disability. That is a significant market segment.
- Better UX for everyone: Accessibility improvements (clear navigation, readable text, fast loading) help all users.
- Reduced legal risk: Accessibility lawsuits are increasing in Canada, following the US trend.
How to get started
- Run a free audit: Use Google Lighthouse, axe DevTools, or WAVE to identify the biggest issues
- Fix high-impact items first: Alt text, contrast, keyboard navigation
- Build accessibility into new projects: It is far cheaper to build accessible than to retrofit
- Test with real users: Automated tools catch about 30 percent of issues. Manual testing catches the rest.
Bottom line
Web accessibility in Canada is moving from "optional" to "required." Calgary businesses that build accessibility into their websites now avoid future compliance costs, reach more customers, and build a better experience for everyone.