The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) is Canada's only independent not-for-profit, commercial-free, bilingual media organization focused entirely on politics and public affairs. On our broadcast television channel, website, digital app, and social media platforms, CPAC delivers programming that includes the complete televised proceedings of Canada's Parliament and in-depth coverage of key political events and public policy debates. CPAC's digital offering includes up to 14 simultaneous live streams and a video archive of over 60,000 hours of parliamentary and public affairs content. CPAC's employees work out of our head office in Ottawa, Ontario.
CPAC is pleased to publish its Accessibility Progress Report for 2025. This report outlines our approach to and progress on identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility in alignment with the Accessible Canada Act (ACA).
At CPAC we commit to proactively identifying barriers and working towards their removal. We also commit to addressing barriers when we become aware of them, even if they are not identified in our accessibility plan.
General
Feedback Process, Contact Information, and Alternative Format Requests
If you would like to provide CPAC with feedback relating to our organization's accessibility, our Feedback Process, or our 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan, or to request alternate formats of our Accessibility Plan or Progress Report, please contact our Viewer Services Coordinator who will be pleased to assist:
Viewer Services Coordinator
| By email: | accessible@cpac.ca |
| By phone: | 1 (877) 287-2722 |
| By mail: | Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) 1750 - 45 O'Connor Street Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4 |
Full details of our feedback process are available at: Accessibility Feedback | CPAC.ca
Areas of Accessibility - Progress Report
Employment
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Create a documented process for workplace accommodation requests by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. CPAC developed and implemented a formal 8-step accommodation process.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Review job postings through an accessibility lens and develop new guidelines by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. Job postings were reviewed and updated in 2024 to include inclusive language. This is now an ongoing practice for all job postings.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Update the diversity policy to include temporary disabilities by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. CPAC's Diversity Policy was updated to include temporary disabilities.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Finalize a workplace accommodation policy by the end of 2025.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
In progress. The formal policy is being developed, building upon the implemented 8-step process for workplace accommodation.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Provide accessibility and disability awareness training to all employees and management by the end of 2026.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
In progress. Training options are being assessed and will be implemented by the end of 2026.
The Built Environment
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Update emergency preparedness plans to include provisions for visitors with disabilities by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Complete. CPAC's emergency guide was updated to include language around who is responsible for providing assistance.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Conduct a built environment audit of office and studio spaces by the end of 2026.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
In progress. Initial planning has begun for a comprehensive accessibility audit of CPAC's physical workspace. Full execution is scheduled for a future reporting cycle.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Build a plan to audit the CPAC website for accessibility barriers and WCAG compliance by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. We have developed a plan to audit the CPAC website for barriers to accessibility and achieve WCAG compliance. This plan comprises two components: (1) We have identified an external service provider to conduct a WCAG compliance audit; (2) in advance of the external audit, we have conducted a preliminary internal audit during which our staff identified and, where possible, addressed known barriers to website accessibility. The website audit will take place in the summer of 2025.
Communication (other than ICT)
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Create accessible social media guidance and share with employees by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. Social media accessibility guidelines and best practices were drafted and shared with staff.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Create an accessible events checklist and distribute to relevant employees by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. An accessible events checklist was drafted and shared with the communications team who organize events.
The Procurement of Goods, Services, and Facilities
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Consider accessibility aspects in procurement planning starting immediately.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. Accessibility considerations have been integrated into procurement processes, with efforts to balance value, functionality, and inclusivity.
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Create guidance resources and checklists for accessibility in procurement by September 2026.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
In progress. An Accessibility Considerations in Procurement Checklist has been developed. It is currently pending approval to be included as part of our procurement policy.
The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Create a dedicated accessibility page on the CPAC website by the end of 2024.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. A dedicated page has been created here. This page currently includes links to accessible copies of CPAC's Accessibility Plan, which documents steps CPAC is taking to improve accessibility. The page will be updated as needed with additional information for visitors on barriers outside of our control.
Transportation
Initiative from 2024-2027 Accessibility Plan
Evaluate transportation options and accommodations for employees and visitors.
Action Taken (as of May 2025)
Completed. While CPAC does not operate a transportation service, the office location is accessible via Para Transpo and public transit.
Licence conditions under the Broadcasting Act
CPAC operates its national English and French-language discretionary services under a licence from the CRTC. CPAC complies in full with its conditions of licence ensuring our programming service is accessible.
Consultations
To support the preparation of this report, CPAC engaged with internal staff and consulted accessibility best practices and guidelines. CPAC also reviewed feedback from consultations which took place while drafting CPAC's Accessibility Plan. While formal external consultations were not conducted this year, we plan to include disability organizations and lived-experience perspectives in our future reporting cycle.
Feedback
CPAC's Accessibility Feedback page is available here: Accessibility Feedback | CPAC.ca.
Conclusion
This Accessibility Progress Report reflects CPAC's ongoing commitment to creating a workplace that is inclusive, accessible, and continuously improving. We look forward to deepening our progress in the coming year by expanding consultations, completing our website audit, and continuing to identify and remove barriers across all areas of our operations.