Enable the fuller inclusion of people with disabilities in academic, social, and professional life • YouBetcha

Current Status

Status: Not Started

No actions have been taken by the Carney government to advance this promise.

Background

Mark Carney's pledge to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities emerged amid growing calls for inclusive policies during the 2025 federal election, focusing on barriers in education, work, and daily life. The promise specifically targeted the publishing industry, aiming to mandate accessible e-books to support visually impaired Canadians and others needing adaptive formats. Fulfilling it would require legislative or regulatory changes to enforce compliance among publishers by the 2030 deadline, building on broader disability rights discussions but demanding new federal action.

Evidence

As of March 26, 2026, no concrete actions by the Carney government appear in available records toward requiring accessible e-books from Canadian publishers. Departmental plans from agencies like the National Research Council and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada outline priorities in science, innovation, and technology, but none address publishing accessibility or disability inclusion in this context [3][6]. Similarly, international and natural resources reports from prior years contain no relevant updates [4][5][7]. Parliamentary committee evidences from earlier sessions list historical proceedings without mention of post-2025 initiatives [1][2]. An inaccessible or rejected document provides no further details [8].

Assessment

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has yet to demonstrate any progress on his campaign promise to mandate accessible e-books by 2030, leaving the commitment untouched more than a year into his term. Without legislation, regulations, or other tangible steps to enforce the requirement on publishers, the pledge remains stalled, even as the deadline approaches. This inaction contrasts with the promise's intent to foster inclusion for Canadians with disabilities, underscoring a gap between electoral rhetoric and policy delivery.

Current Status

Background

Evidence

Assessment

Sources