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04 / 16 / 2025

2025 Accessibility for Manitobans Act: What Does It Mean for Your Canadian Business?

Announcements Web Design Web Development

Big news in Canada for accessibility! Starting May 1, 2025, private sector businesses, non-profits, and smaller municipalities in Manitoba will be required to meet web accessibility guidelines. This follows the 2024 mandate for public sector organizations to comply with the Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). With the May 1st deadline approaching, many organizations are asking the same questions: Does this apply to me? Is our website accessible? And what does that even mean?

What Is the Accessibility Law in Manitoba?

The Accessible Information and Communication Standard focuses on ensuring that digital communications (like websites and web apps) are accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.

If your business or organization is launching a new website, updating an existing one, or using a site to offer services, your web content and web apps must meet or exceed Web Content WCAG 2.1 level AA standards.

What Is WCAG 2.1?

WCAG 2.1 stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of rules that help make websites easier to use for people with disabilities. These guidelines cover things like text size, adding image descriptions, and making sure a site works with screen readers and keyboards. Following WCAG 2.1 helps make your website more inclusive and user-friendly for everyone.

What Can I Do to Meet WCAG Level AA Requirements?

Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation accessible colour pairings.

WCAG Level AA compliance includes things like:

  • having enough colour contrast so text is readable
  • keyboard-friendly navigation for visitors who don’t use a mouse
  • alt text for images for the visually impaired

To get started, review your current site: Is it easy to navigate on a keyboard? Are your forms clearly labeled? Is your content readable for those with vision impairments? If your site has older content that’s essential for accessing your services, it will need to be updated to meet these guidelines. You can learn more about the guidelines in our accessibility blog post here.

Not in Manitoba? Web Accessibility Should Matter to You Too

Accessibility laws are gaining momentum across Canada, and other provinces are likely to follow Manitoba’s lead. Plus, an accessible website does more than meet legal requirements—it also makes it easier for more people to discover your content, use your services, and make purchases. By future-proofing your website now, you’ll avoid scrambling to meet the standards down the road.

Future-Proof Your Website with Accessible Design

At Array, we make accessibility approachable without sacrificing design, performance, or compliance. If the standards feel overwhelming, we’re here to guide you through it—or handle it entirely. Reach out today and let us make accessibility effortless and rewarding!

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