Ferry operators providing passenger vessel services for passenger service between provinces or territories or between Canada and the United States are expected to provide enhanced equipment accessibility to travellers with disabilities. This Code of Practice details which ferry operators are covered, when and how carriers should follow the Code and what the accessibility criteria are. Each case will be judged on its own merit. The Agency will conduct periodic surveys to monitor the progress on the implementation of the Code. The Agency will continue to exercise its authority to deal with individual complaints to determine whether there is an undue obstacle to the mobility of persons with disabilities.
Codes of practice are an alternative to regulations.
Codes are voluntary and set the minimum national accessibility standards that the industry is expected to apply. Codes of Practice and regulations are developed to resolve systemic barriers to accessibility. The Ferry Code of Practice is the third Code developed by the Agency. A Code of Practice for accessibility of passenger rail travel was launched in 1998 and another code for aircraft accessibility was launched in 1997. This is only a general summary of the provisions of the Ferry Code of Practice.