OTTAWA – Beginning October 15th visitors to CPAC’s new online digital archive can travel back in time to relive Canada’s most famous political battles and landmark commissions.
As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the Cable Public Affairs Channel will be launching The CPAC Digital Archive: Rewinding the Public Record. It will house thousands of hours of prime political programming, from the proceedings of the House of Commons to the inquiries that made the headlines, all available online.
“The cable industry has proudly owned and invested in CPAC for two decades,” says Ken Stein, Chair of CPAC’s Board of Directors. “The CPAC Digital Archive will put 20 years of political history in viewers’ hands and reinforce our dedication to CPAC.”
In 1977, Canada became the first country in the world to televise parliamentary proceedings. To commemorate the renewal of that commitment by Canada’s cable companies in 1992, Canadians will have access, on October 15th, to the hallmarks of history, from the head-to-head battles of Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark to the rise of Stephen Harper. It will offer the press conferences, the debates, the controversies and the elections that have drawn our political, economic and social trajectory.
“For 20 years, CPAC has been a window on democracy for Canadians,” champions Colette Watson, CPAC’s President and General Manager. “The video archive project reflects our ongoing public service mission to connect viewers with their rich political heritage.”
At launch on October 15th, The CPAC Digital Archive will include:
- 2,000 hours of House of Commons proceedings from 1977 into 1980, to culminate in a total of 18,000 hours;
- 1,500 hours of key Commissions of Inquiry, including complete coverage of the Gomery, Arar, Air India and Oliphant commissions;
- Over 19,000 hours of contemporary CPAC programming on demand.
CPAC says it gratefully acknowledges Library and Archives Canada for their assistance in making televised House of Commons debates available to The CPAC Digital Archive.
