Accessibility Progress Report 2024

General

The Leaders' Debates Commission developed an Accessibility Plan as part of its compliance with the Accessible Canada Act (ACA).

This 2024 report highlights the progress that has been made over the last 12 months against this plan. Our 2023 Progress Report is available here.

Contact Information and Feedback Process

The Leaders' Debates Commission welcomes feedback from its employees, stakeholders, and members of the public on the implementation of its accessibility plan.

We are committed to reviewing the feedback we receive and taking steps to address barriers that are identified through this feedback.

You can submit feedback about accessibility at Leaders' Debates Commission or about its implementation of its accessibility plan or progress report by contacting:

• Jess Milton, Director, Production & Engagement
• Email: info@debates-debats.ca

You can provide contact information or submit feedback anonymously. The Commission is only able to acknowledge receipt and respond directly to feedback if contact information is provided.

Alternate Formats

The Commission's accessibility plan, progress reports and feedback process can also be provided in alternative formats.

Formats available:

• print
• large print (Increased font size)
• braille (a system of raised dots that people who are blind or who have low vision can read with their fingers), and
• audio (a recording of someone reading the text out loud)

Areas Described under Section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA)

Making debates accessible is part of the Leaders' Debates Commission's mandate. Prioritizing accessibility and focusing on those with disabilities must be considered for the leaders' debates to be truly accessible.

The Commission's work identified within its accessibility plan is underway.

Employment

The Leaders' Debates Commission is a small independent body, with only one full-time employee and two part-time employees. Everyone works remotely, so there is no built environment.

While there is not currently a built environment for our small secretariate, we asked our staff if they faced barriers at work and made sure our employees know how to request and receive accommodations.

We are committed to providing potential hires during the next election cycle with the understanding that accommodations would be available for their accessibility needs. We will continue to include disability is in our hiring strategies moving forward.

• In 2023, we reviewed our accommodation policy and made sure that the process and who is responsible for that process is clear should there be hires for the next leaders' debates.

Progress

• In 2024, we continued to review our accommodation policy to make sure that the process and who is responsible for that process continues to clear should there be hires for the next leaders' debates.

The Built Environment

Since 2021, the Leaders' Debates Commission's small secretariat has worked remotely. The Commission no longer has a physical office.

We are committed to providing potential hires during the next federal general election with a safe and accessible workspace which would include accessible features whenever possible.

We will conduct a thorough review of the barriers that might exist in the built environment when the location/s of the debates is identified and ensure that we address them and include recommendations.

• In 2023, we identified that when the location/s of the next debates for the next federal general election is/are identified, the following goals will help us reduce or remove barriers:
  • We will work with the building location management team to investigate options for accessible emergency notification methods for people with disabilities.
  • We will create a feedback mechanism for potential hires to share their comments about the functionality and accessibility of their workspace.
  • We will have a process for employees with disabilities to request adjustments or accommodations to their workspaces.
    

Progress

• In our Scope of Work (SOW) for Debates Producer published in 2024, we indicated that the venue must be accessible, at a minimum in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada and CSA B651: Accessible Design for the Built Environment including facility layout, drop off and pick up area, parking, facility entrance, corridors, elevators, public washrooms, and safety features.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Web technology plays an integral role in how we do our work at the Leaders' Debates Commission. With our small secretariat working remotely, web tools help us to connect, share, meet and create as a team, as well as reach and communicate with our stakeholders and advisors. They also allow us to communicate with Canadians and the media.

• In 2023, we reviewed to see if there were any barriers in our web tools that might exist.

Progress

• In 2024, we once again reviewed to see if there were any barriers in our web tools that might exist.

Communication, other than ICT

Engaging with stakeholders both here and abroad is a vital part of the Leaders' Debates Commission's work. We consult widely on a number of issues and regularly communicate with stakeholders. We also communicate with Canadians and the media.

• In 2023, we reviewed our strategy to manage awareness of any existing barriers and began addressing them ahead of the next leaders' debates.

Progress

• In 2024, we published a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a debates producer. The Scope of Work included the RFP stated that the debates producer must:
  • ensure that the leaders’ debates are broadcast in a manner available in an accessible way to persons with disabilities.
  • ensure that both the English and French debates are available in ASL, LSQ, and descriptive video and that the feeds for these languages and formats reach Canadians who would benefit from these language feeds.
    
    
• The Scope of Work also:
  • indicated all marketing and promotional material should also communicate the accessibility features that will be provided for the debate broadcast using accessible, plain language.
  • encouraged the debates producer to work with media companies who specialize in reaching Canadians living with disabilities, to distribute the ASL, LSQ, and Descriptive Video language feeds.
  • covers post-production deliverables and indicates the debates producer must make production material available in accessible formats.

The Procurement of Goods, Services and Facilities

The Leaders' Debates Commission is assisted in terms of administrative support from the Privy Council Office for procurement services for any contracts that the Commission may decide to put in place or engage with. As needed, Requests for proposals (RFPs) are issued through this administrative arrangement.

• In 2023, we began to bolster accessibility considerations in our statements of work for vendors, when applicable.

Progress

• In 2024, we worked with the accessibility team at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to bolster accessibility considerations for our RFP for a debates producer.
• In 2024, the Scope of Work indicates that the debates producer will consult with the Commission to ensure that the provision of alternate formats listed in the SOW take into consideration accessibility in accordance with the Accessible Canada Act.

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services

This priority accessibility area relates to eliminating and preventing barriers to enable receipt of services that are accessible to all. The Leaders' Debates Commission is responsible for engaging a debates producer for the next leaders' debates and making sure that in its Request for Proposal (RFP), accessibility standards and accessible practices are encouraged, considered, and included.

• In 2023, we developed a set of accessibility guidelines to include in the next RFP for debates producer.

Progress

• In 2024, we released a Request for Proposal for a debates producer which included a set of accessibility guidelines, which included the following:
  • In support of the Accessible Canada Act, “Nothing Without Us” Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada, the leaders’ debates should make information and communications technology usable by all, and not create new technological barriers.
  • Ensuring that all deliverables and activities related to the design and delivery of the debates adhere to all Government of Canada accessibility and communications standards, directives, guidelines and best practices and that communication is clear, timely, accurate, accessible and written in plain language.
  • Ensuring meetings should be accessible and barrier-free, including the format of documents how information is exchanged and how meetings are delivered (whether in-person or virtual).
  • Ensuring all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) components should conform with relevant accessibility requirements of the EN 301 549 (2021).

Transportation

This priority accessibility area relates to eliminating and preventing barriers within the federal transportation network. Given the nature of the Leaders' Debates Commission's mandate and operations, this area is not included in the scope of its accessibility plan and as such, no goals have been created and there is no progress to report.

Consultations

The Leaders' Debates Commission consulted with its small secretariat and discussed with them how to further deepen our engagement level with persons and stakeholders with disabilities during the "off-cycle" period and during an election period in virtual meetings.

Feedback

Feedback received was constructive and beneficial in identifying practical ways to develop and implement processes that address accessibility barriers described in the Commission's accessibility plan. Feedback on lived experience provided ways to address existing barriers ahead of the next leaders' debates and in particular, the advice of the accessibility team at PSPC. The Commission has taken this feedback into consideration and updated the Scope of Work in its RFP to make sure the next leaders' debates continue to address accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities.

Glossary

Accessibility

The degree to which a product, service, program, or environment is available to be accessed or used by all.

Accommodation

Any change in the working environment that allows a person with functional limitations in their abilities to do their job. Changes can include:

• adjustments to the physical workspace
• adaptations to equipment and tools
• flexible work hours
• job-sharing
• relocation of the workspace within the greater workplace
• the ability to work from home
• reallocation or exchange of some non-essential tasks for others, and
• time off for medical appointments.

Accommodations (adjustments) can be temporary, periodic, or long-term, depending on the employee's situation or changes in the workplace.

Barrier

Anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment. This includes:

• physical
• mental
• intellectual
• cognitive
• learning
• communication or sensory impairment, or
• a functional limitation

Barriers can be physical, architectural, technological, or attitudinal. (Source: Accessible Canada Act)

Disability

Any of the following impairments that in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person's full and equal participation in society:

• physical
• mental
• intellectual
• cognitive
• learning
• communication or sensory impairment, or
• a functional limitation

(Source: Accessible Canada Act)

Employee

A person employed by the Leaders' Debates Commission.

Persons with disabilities

Persons who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment and who:

• consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or
• believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment

Persons with disabilities include persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace. (Source: Employment Equity Act)

Secretariat

Employees working at the Leaders' Debates Commission.