ASL – Accessibility and accommodations guidelines - 3 of 4
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Video Transcript
What happens after a party makes an accommodation request?
- When a party makes an accommodation request, it is reviewed by Commission staff based on the guiding principles and factors. In straightforward cases, staff will arrange the accommodations and communicate this to the requester as quickly as possible.
- In other cases, Commission staff may need direction from Commissioners, who are responsible for making formal Commission decisions. In those cases, they will present the request to Commissioners for a decision and will inform the requester that this has been done.
- The Commission makes its decision based on the evidence in front of it, using the guiding principles and factors. The Commission will communicate its decision to the requester along with the reasons why the request is being granted in full, granted in part, or denied.
- The time it takes staff or Commissioners to address a request depends on the type of request and the type of proceeding.
- The Commission respects the privacy of parties requesting accommodation. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to let other parties comment on the request. This would happen when the Commission needs to understand whether granting the request would affect other parties.
- For example, a request for a deadline extension could delay the proceeding. The Commission may want to know whether the delay could impact other parties and might ask other parties to comment. Some parties might say a delay would negatively impact them. Other parties may support the request and want to benefit from similar timelines.
- A request for accommodation to present at a hearing would not usually affect other parties. Therefore, the Commission will not usually ask other parties to comment on these requests.
How accommodations at hearings work
- If a party makes an accommodation request for their appearance at a hearing and the request is granted, the Commission will confirm a specific date for the party’s presentation as soon as this is known. This way, the requester should have sufficient time to prepare. Parties being accommodated will also receive a time for their appearance, which will usually be early in the day in question.
- When the Commission confirms this information, it will also communicate a decision on the party’s accommodation request if it has not already been provided to the requesting party.
- Unless there are circumstances beyond the Commission’s control, it will not change the presentation arrangements for parties who are being accommodated. If necessary, the Commission will reschedule other parties’ presentations to ensure that those who are being accommodated appear as scheduled. However, if changes are unavoidable, the accommodated party will receive an explanation for why the changes were necessary.
Support during a hearing
- During a hearing, members of Commission staff are in the hearing room. These staff are identified by place cards that state their names and positions.
- The Hearing Secretary is responsible for ensuring approved accommodation measures are in place. During the hearing, they can assist parties with accommodations, as required.
- For example, if the hearing schedule changes during a hearing, a party can request updates from the Hearing Secretary.
- A party may only realize they need accommodations once the hearing begins. If this happens, the Hearing Secretary can answer questions and help work out the best way forward.
- The Hearing Secretary can be reached in person or by email at hearing@crtc.gc.ca.
This ASL video is the third of four that set out the CRTC Information Bulletin on Accessibility and accommodations guidelines.
This video describes what happens after someone makes an accommodation request, how accommodations work at CRTC hearings, and support offered during CRTC hearings.
To see the entire Information Bulletin, please watch all 4 videos in this playlist: ASL – Accessibility and accommodations guidelines.
Accessibility and accommodations guidelines CRTC 2025-95
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