This page explains how Canada Edition works to make its news content accessible to everyone, including people who use assistive technologies. If you rely on a screen reader, keyboard navigation, or reduced motion settings, this statement describes what we do and how you can reach us if anything is not working.
What accessibility standards does Canada Edition follow?
Canada Edition commits to meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA, as recommended under the Accessible Canada Act. We follow the Canadian Accessibility Standards published by the Government of Canada at accessible.canada.ca, which is the primary enforcement route for federal accessibility obligations.
Our entire website, including the newsroom system and all editorial pages, is designed to be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. We ensure that text has sufficient contrast, that interactive elements are reachable by keyboard alone, and that content works with screen readers and voice control software. The Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Roy, and the Standards Lead, Andrew Leblanc, oversee compliance with these standards as part of our regular editorial reviews.
How this works in practice
Imagine a reader with a motor impairment who cannot use a mouse. They visit canadaedition.org to read an article about municipal transit funding. Using only the keyboard, they press Tab to move through the page: the skip-to-content link appears first, then the navigation menu, then the article headings. Each focusable element has a visible outline. The reader opens a video transcript linked from the article and adjusts their browser’s reduced-motion setting, which pauses any decorative animations. The fact-checked story, reviewed by Hannah Walsh and the editorial team, loads without flickering or auto-playing media. That concrete journey shows our commitment to WCAG 2.2 Level AA in everyday use.
What are the known limitations?
Some older embedded content, such as archived interactive graphics or third-party widgets like social-media feeds, may not fully meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA. We are actively reviewing these components and will update or replace them as part of our continuous improvement cycle. Videos produced before 2024 may lack captions, but all new video content includes accurate captions and transcripts. Audio-only content provides a text alternative. We prioritise fixes based on user feedback and technical feasibility.
How can I report an accessibility issue?
If you encounter a barrier while using Canada Edition — a missing alternative text, a keyboard trap, or unclear focus indicators — please email us directly at accessibility@canadaedition.org. You can also use our general contact form at /about-us/contact/ or file a formal complaint through our complaints procedure. All reports are reviewed by Andrew Leblanc, Standards Lead, who coordinates with the technical team. We aim to acknowledge your message within two business days and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Who oversees this policy?
Canada Edition is owned and operated by Northern Beacon Media Inc., an Ontario corporation. The accessibility statement and the technical standards it describes are managed by the Standards Lead, Andrew Leblanc, under the authority of the Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Roy. Our editorial policy and AI and automation policy also reflect our commitment to inclusive, human‑reviewed journalism. We treat accessibility as an ongoing practice, not a one‑time checklist, and we regularly audit the site using automated tools and manual testing.
In short
Canada Edition is committed to making trustworthy Canadian journalism accessible to all readers, in line with WCAG 2.2 Level AA and the Accessible Canada Act. We welcome your feedback to help us improve and encourage you to contact us at accessibility@canadaedition.org if you experience any difficulty using this site.