CPAC says it’s at ‘breaking point’ after CRTC postpones wholesale rate decision

By Canadian Press on November 28, 2025.

OTTAWA — The long-standing video service providing Canadians with direct coverage of political events says a recent CRTC decision puts its operation at risk.

CPAC says the move by the broadcast regulator to postpone a decision on increasing its wholesale rate threatens its ability to deliver programming.

The current rate of $0.13 per subscriber, paid by cable and satellite providers, has remained the same since 2018 — and those cable and satellite providers have been losing subscribers ever since.

CPAC says in a news release it is now at a “breaking point” and urgently needs to rebuild its broadcast infrastructure.

CEO Christa Dickenson says the unedited public affairs content CPAC offers is an antidote to the spread of misinformation.

Dickenson says CPAC’s service could at some point “go dark.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2025.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press