Accessibility Plan 2026-28
General
The Leaders' Debates Commission has developed its 2026-2028 Accessibility Plan to align with the goals of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and the Accessible Canada Regulations (ACR).
The Commission is committed to continuing to make debates accessible to all Canadians, including those with disabilities and those living in remote areas and those living in official language minority communities.
For the leaders' debates to serve as a democratic exercise, citizens must be able to access and experience them without barriers. To reach as many Canadians as possible, the Commission must ensure that the debates' signal reaches as many households as possible; that Canadians are able to watch, listen to, or read the debates in languages and formats that are accessible to them; and that the debates allow them to engage in a way that makes them feel included and represented.
The Commission is committed to ensuring that debates are accessible in French, English, Indigenous languages, ASL, LSQ, and through closed captioning and described video. It is equally committed to improving workplace accessibility within the secretariat so that employees feel included and supported, and to fostering a culture of accessibility and disability inclusion.
This plan builds on progress made since the Accessibility Plan 2023-25 .
About the Leader's Debates Commission
The Commission is an independent and impartial public body created by Order in Council P.C. 2018-1322 on October 29, 2018, and amended by Order in Council P.C. 2020-0871 on November 5, 2020.
Its core mandate is twofold. First, to organize two leaders' debates for the next federal general election – one in each official language. Second, to prepare a report to Parliament, following the debates, outlining findings, lessons learned, and recommendations.
The Commission has thus far organized leaders' debates for the 2019, 2021, and 2025 federal general elections.
Making debates accessible is part of the Leaders' Debates Commission's mandate.
We need to prioritize accessibility and focus on Canadians with disabilities for the debates to be truly accessible. Our secretariat plays an important role when issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a debates producer, as once the contract is awarded, the producer becomes responsible for the promotion, production, and distribution of the debates. It is therefore the Commission's role to ensure that the RFP fully reflects the Commission's mandate
Contact Information and Feedback process
The Leaders' Debates Commission welcomes feedback from our employees, stakeholders, and members of the public on this accessibility plan.
We are committed to reviewing the feedback we receive and taking steps to address barriers that are identified through this feedback.
Feedback about accessibility at the Leaders' Debates Commission or about this plan may be submitted by contacting:
- Email: info@debates-debats.ca
Feedback may be submitted anonymously or contact information may be provided. The Commission is only able to acknowledge receipt and respond directly to feedback if contact information is provided.
Alternate formats
This plan and a description of our feedback process can also be provided in alternative formats.
Formats available:
- 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)
- electronic formats that are compatible with adaptive technology
Print, large print and electronic formats may require up to 20 days, while Braille and audio formats may take up to 45 days.
Consultations
The Commission engaged its small secretariat in discussions about barriers and opportunities to enhance accessibility at the Commission. We also explored how to strengthen our engagement with persons and stakeholders with disabilities throughout off‑cycle and election periods.
To inform this plan, we held virtual meetings to identify ways to make the next leaders' debates more accessible and understand barriers.
Consultations with persons with disabilities
The Commission consulted with accessibility experts, with particular guidance provided by the accessibility team at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on how to bolster accessibility considerations ahead of the next leaders' debates, to make them more accessible for Canadians living with disabilities, and on how to address existing barriers in an election year when leaders' debates are organized.
Areas in section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act
Employment
The Leaders' Debates Commission is a small independent body, with only one full-time employee and two part-time employees who mainly work remotely.
Maintaining debate‑readiness throughout the electoral cycle places numerous responsibilities on employees. We rely on our small secretariat to carry out these duties effectively. As such, each workplace must be accessible so our team can perform their work successfully.
We aim for our employees, including part‑time hires during debate week, to know that accommodations are available if they encounter barriers at work and to understand how to request and receive them.
We are committed to ensuring that potential hires during the election cycle, including those brought on during debate week, understand that accommodations will be available to support their accessibility needs.
Barrier
- Review our accommodation policy ahead of the next leaders' debates to ensure the process continues to be current and that potential employees during debate week are aware that accommodations are available to them.
Next steps
- Ensure the language used in potential job postings and role descriptions of roles is current, inclusive, and accessible, and clearly communicates the availability of assessment accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
The built environment
The Leaders' Debates Commission's secretariat mainly works remotely.
We are committed to providing employees 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 and venue of the debates is identified and ensure that we address them and include recommendations.
Barrier
- The location and venue for the next debates in the upcoming federal general election will determine the specific accessibility considerations to be identified.
Next steps
- Once the venue is identified, we will, in consultation with the debates producer, identify and resolve any barriers to accessibility that might exist in the space.
- We will ensure the venue is 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.
- We will create a feedback mechanism for potential hires to share their comments about the functionality and accessibility of their workspace.
Information and communication technologies
Web technology plays an integral role in how we do our work at the Leaders' Debates Commission. With our small secretariat working mainly 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.
Meetings with our advisory board and with stakeholders, both here in Canada and around the world, are virtual. Web technology allows us to run these meetings and consultations in a collaborative, convenient and safe way. It is important that the technology we use is accessible to the people who work at the Commission and to the advisors and stakeholders that we consult with.
The Commission's website, including all new published content conforms with the Treasury Board Standard on Web Accessibility.
Barrier
- Review and address any barriers in our web tools that might exist.
Next steps
- Improve accessibility, functionality, where applicable, and provide employees with quick reference materials and practical resources to address any barriers in our web tools that might exist.
Communication, other than information and communication technologies
Engaging with a broad range of 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.
We have a responsibility to make sure that the way we share information and engage with stakeholders is accessible to everyone.
In 2025, the English-language and French-language debates were made widely available, distributed live on 34 television outlets, 10 radio networks, and 60 digital streams, virtually guaranteeing accessibility to all Canadians.
Each debate was also available in 13 other languages, including five Indigenous languages, American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes Québécoise (LSQ). Both the French-language and the English-language debates were also available with closed captioning embedded in the broadcast signal and with described video. In addition, multilingual broadcaster OMNI TV provided interpretation into six additional languages.
Barrier
- Review our strategy for identifying and addressing existing barriers ahead of the next leaders' debates.
Next steps
- Implement a strategy that strengthens accessibility and disability inclusion by ensuring that the next leaders' debates are broadcast in formats that remain fully accessible to persons with disabilities.
The procurement of goods, services and facilities
The Leaders' Debates Commission is assisted in terms of administrative support by the Privy Council for procurement services for any contracts that the Commission may decide to put in place or engage in. As needed, contracts are issued through this administrative arrangement.
In 2024, the Commission worked with the accessibility team at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to bolster accessibility considerations in our Request for Proposal (RFP) for a debates producer for the 2025 leaders' debates.
Barriers
- Barriers are reduced when accessibility is considered at the outset of any process.
- In 2025, the leaders' debates were provided in alternate formats, listed in the RFP, to take into consideration accessibility in accordance with the Accessible Canada Act.
Next steps
- Implement required accessibility services in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the next leaders' debates to ensure accessibility remains a priority.
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 leaders' debates and making sure that in its Request to Proposal, accessibility standards and accessible practices are encouraged, considered, and included.
Making debates more accessible is a continued commitment to ensure leaders' debates reach as many Canadians as possible. Effective and informative debates serve the public interest and work to remove barriers between Canadians, including those with disabilities.
In 2024, the Commission released a Request for Proposal for a debates producer which included a set of accessibility guidelines.
Barrier
- No barriers related to the design or delivery of its programs and services were reported for the 2025 leaders' debates, which were delivered in accordance with accessibility guidelines.
Next steps
- Implement the accessibility guidelines in the next debates producer RFP.
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 the accessibility plan and as such, no goals have been created.
Conclusion
Debates are democratic exercises that belong to the voting public. Serving the public interest means helping voters make informed choices at the ballot box.
Enhancing accessibility over the last three election cycles has ensured that debates reach as many Canadians as possible, while also enabling voters to watch, listen to or read the debates in a language and format that is accessible to them. This has deepened adhesion to these democratic exercises and enabled voters to actively engage in the democratic process.
By continuing to make leaders' debates widely available and accessible, the Commission will help strengthen Canada's democratic institutions and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to accessibility.
