CBC Access was a half-hour current affairs program that invited groups of Canadians with ideas of national interest to make use of the network's facilities to air their views. The program looked for groups who felt they had been ignored by television — either because their views were considered too controversial, or alternatively too dull, or simply because they were inexperienced in soliciting media coverage.

CBC Access's main ground rules were no air-time for political parties for electioneering, or for groups soliciting funds.