OTTAWA – Three organizations representing community television and radio stations have applauded amendments made to clarify the role of “community” in Bill C-11, legislation which would give the CRTC enhanced powers to regulate content on internet platforms in support of Canadian productions.
The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), the Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec (the Federation), and the National Campus and Community Radio Association (the NCRA/ANREC) said in a press release today that the contentious legislation, which passed third reading in the House this week and is now before the Senate for pre-study, more clearly defines the “community element” that will “lead to more local news and diversity in Canadian media.”
That message includes support for “smaller, remote, and minority communities.”
“The new language in Bill C-11 should be a game-changer,” said Cathy Edwards, the executive director of CACTUS. “Community TV has been in decline for two decades. The vast majority of the over 300 cable community stations that used to serve Canada’s smaller communities have closed. Communities are setting up their own not-for-profit media to fill the gap, but there needs to be recognition of the strength of the not-for-profit, community-run model to address the information needs of rural areas and minority voices, especially racialized and Indigenous communities. The language added by the Heritage Committee in Bill C-11 provides this recognition for the first time.”
The legislation would give the broadcasting regulator the ability to regulate the digital space to ensure Canadian content is being supported and promoted, which includes “discoverability” requirements or making more prominently featuring Canadian content.
Internet content creators have come out against the bill because they claim the discoverability requirements would pull eyeballs away from their own channels and jeopardize their careers.
