OTTAWA – The CRTC has released its review of the broadcasting services in English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada.
The hearing began on January 13, after receiving public comments last November as it requested in Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-12.
At issue was the availability of English- and French-language broadcasting services across all broadcasting platforms and distribution systems, and assurance that the diversity of these communities is reflected throughout the Canadian broadcasting system.
The Commission further identified three issues relating to the specific communities involved:
– the availability and quality of English- and French-language broadcasting services in official-language minority communities;
– the identification of deficiencies and challenges in those communities regarding the provision of official-language broadcasting services;
– and, measures to encourage and facilitate access to the widest range of official-language broadcasting services possible.
In its report, the CRTC concluded that official-language minority communities do have appropriate access to television services of “equitable and of adequate quality”.
It determined that the CBC and community radio stations "play an important role" in official-language minority communities, but that community reflection in the programming of the services available in the Canadian broadcasting system “can be improved”.
Offering its support of the public broadcaster, the CRTC said that it is “important that the CBC have the means to continue serving these communities” and encouraged the federal government “to take note of the challenges that the CBC will have to contend with over the following years" to enable it "to provide the best possible service to official-language minority communities.”
The Commission also said that new media represents the best solution for ensuring access to a maximum number of services, and for allowing a better reflection of official-language minority communities within the Canadian broadcasting system. However, it continued, “the issue of access to broadband must be resolved” before this can happen.
Click here to read the full decision.
