Catherine Buckie, iwritewell.ca, 2026-03-25
(1514 words)
Canada published its first accessible plain language standard on International Plain Language Day, October 13, 2025. The standard is called CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language. It is the product of more than 5 years of hard work by Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and its Technical Committee for Plain Language.
Why create a plain language standard?
ASC has 2 goals:
- to create a barrier-free Canada by January 1, 2040
- to contribute to the identification and removal of existing barriers and to prevent new ones
ASC accomplishes these goals mainly by developing accessibility standards. It also funds accessibility research and shares information related to accessibility.
CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language was one of the first standards ASC published. To date, the organization has published 8 standards with another 39 in development. This shows the importance that ASC gives to plain language.
Dino Zuppa, Chief Executive Officer of Accessibility Standards Canada, had this to say about plain language and the standard:
“Plain language is more than good writing. It’s a matter of accessibility and inclusion. It helps people make informed decisions, access services, and participate fully in their communities. This new standard gives organizations the tools to remove barriers and ensure their information truly serves everyone.”
The standard offers guidance on accessibility and barriers
The Canadian standard was created to align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 lists 6 specific barriers that it applies to:
- language and comprehension
- memory, attention, and processing
- emotional and distress-related
- information access and navigation
- visual, hearing, and format
- digital and interactive accessibility
The standard then provides specific guidance on how to address these barriers. For example, clause 11.3 states:
Note: […] if your intended audience experiences memory, attention, and processing barriers, consider working with an expert in developing Easy Read communications.
Who is the standard’s intended audience?
All ASC standards, including the plain language standard, are intended for use by federally regulated entities. This includes the following sectors:
- Government of Canada departments and agencies, including federal courts
- industries and workplaces that the Government of Canada regulates, including:
- banking
- broadcasting and telecommunications
- crown corporations like Canada Post
- transportation by road, rail, water, and air
How does the standard compare to the USA Plain Writing Act of 2010 and ISO 24495-1:2023 – Plain Language Part 1?
The Canadian standard is much longer and more detailed than either the Plain Writing Act of 2010 or the first ISO plain language standard.
The following table shows the major similarities and differences between each of them:
| Plain language standard or regulation | CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language | Plain Writing Act 2010 (USA) | ISO 24495-1:2023 – Plain Language Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines |
| Number of pages | 172 | 3 | 22 |
|
Definition of plain language |
Uses an adapted version of the *IPLF’s definition of plain language | Uses the term “plain writing” not “plain language” | Uses the IPLF’s definition of plain language |
|
Cost to access the information
|
Publicly available and free | Publicly available and free | Available for 135 CHF, which is ~171 USD or ~236 CAD |
|
Who the guidance applies to
|
Applies to Canadian federally regulated entities | Applies to Federal agencies in the USA | Applies to anyone who buys the standard and wants to use it |
|
What the guidance includes |
Includes strategies, possible strategies, options, cautions, and examples to help users apply the standard | Leaves it up to government agencies to train employees in plain writing as defined in the Act | Includes examples, methods, guidelines, and techniques to help users apply the standard |
|
Which formats the guidance is for |
Intended for printed, digital, audio-visual, and audio only communications as well as those transcribed in braille | Intended for creating printed documents and digital content | Intended for text, printed and digital, but can be used for other types of communication |
|
How guidance addresses accessibility or barriers |
Directly addresses accessibility and barriers to finding, understanding, and using information | Addresses removing barriers to public participation but doesn’t provide specific guidance on how to do so | Refers users to ** WCAG and EN 301 549 for guidance on the accessibility of digital documents |
|
Voluntary or mandatory |
Voluntary until the minister responsible makes all or part of it mandatory through regulation | Mandatory | Voluntary unless adopted as a requirement by a national standards organization |
*IPLF stands for International Plain Language Federation
**WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
A note about language
Both the Canadian and ISO standards are available in English and French.
The Canadian standard applies specifically to English, French, American Sign Language, langue des signes québecoise, and Indigenous sign languages. The standard could also apply to other languages not listed here.
The ISO standard is language neutral. It applies to most, if not all, written languages. The standard can be localized to reflect differences in languages and cultures. Though the ISO standard provides examples only in English, localized versions may include examples in other languages.
The Plain Writing Act 2010 applies to English only.
Can the Canadian standard be enforced?
Currently, the standard is voluntary. Anyone can use it to improve their communication. But, since the standard is not yet mandatory, it is not being enforced. That could change in the future. Part or all of the standard could become mandatory for federally regulated entities. This would happen under the following circumstances:
- The minister responsible for the standard recommends that it become part of the regulations of the Accessible Canada Act.
- Parliament agrees with the recommendation.
In some cases, the wording of the regulation may differ from the standard or only part of the standard may become regulation.
Will the standard be updated?
ASC reviews and revises all its standards every 5 years or earlier if needed. The process has already begun. Anyone can email ASC to provide feedback on its standards.
Are other writers using the standard?
Because the standard is freely available on ASC’s website, anyone in the world can use it. And, because you don’t have to buy the standard or have a licence to use it, there is no way to track who is using it. Still, at least one organization is making it part of their digital communications design system: Desjardins, one of Canada’s largest financial institutions.
Desjardins was one of the standard’s earliest adopters, following its progress since ASC published the standard’s first draft. Véronique Blais, Desjardins’ Senior Public Relations Advisor, said that the company is producing a new digital content guide. The new guide will reflect both the standard and its own UX writing methods. This will ensure the accessibility of their communications.
“Communicating in a clear, inclusive and accessible manner is … essential to supporting everyone we serve on our digital platforms, regardless of their profile or challenges,” Blais said.
ASC is actively promoting the standard, first by announcing its publication on social media on International Plain Language Day. Since then, it has promoted the standard in every province and territory in Canada.
We have seen how Desjardins is implementing the standard. Perhaps others will announce their implementation as well.
Members of the Technical Committee have spoken about the standard at the Brussels Plain Language Experience 2025 last November. They also spoke at a Plain Canada Clair conference and an Editors Canada webinar in January. It is also being discussed in blog posts like this one, and on at least one podcast.
Upcoming opportunities to learn more about CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain language
May 23, 2026: Working with the Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) Plain Language Standard, Editors Canada’s 2026 Conference: Editing in the Age of Misinformation. This presentation is offered in English by Iva Cheung, Laura Edlund, and Carol Wilson. It is also offered in French by Catherine Buckie and Julie Ruel.
Fall 2026: Using plain language to improve accessibility and inclusion: a course based on CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language. Catherine Buckie and Michelle Waitzman lead this course, which is offered through Plain Language Academy.
We believe that CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language is an important tool that will help create a barrier-free Canada. We look forward to promoting awareness of the standard and encouraging its use across the Canadian communication landscape.
Catherine Buckie (she/her)
Plain Language Consultant at iwritewell.ca
Catherine is an independent plain language consultant in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia (Mi’kma’ki), Canada. She has worked with almost every department within the Government of Nova Scotia as well as with regulatory agencies, academics, and nonprofits.
For the past five years, Catherine has focussed on how plain language and accessibility work together to create communications for all members of society. She was a member of the Technical Committee for Plain Language with Accessibility Standards Canada – the group that developed Canada’s first accessible plain language standard. She is currently a member of the Information and Communication Standard Development Committee at the Accessibility Directorate of Nova Scotia. Catherine believes strongly that the needs of the audience should determine how public and private entities communicate.
Catherine spends much of her time volunteering as a Canadian Ski Patroller, Patient Family Advisor with Nova Scotia Health, and with the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.