Yep, there's your problem. Only Canadian networks (Global, etc) allow you to watch their content for free over the internet from within Canada. I'd the ABC app iPad app would be no different, unfortunately.
MSNBC.com , joint venture with NBC and MSFT is ipad HTML5 compatible. Videos work great in the ipad with that site.
CNN, Espn, CBS. Various other websites are html5 compatible now. Just googe html5 iPad and on the apple website it will give u list of ipad ready websites.