CRTC approves expanded mandate for BPF in Online News Act proceedings

By Ahmad Hathout The CRTC on Wednesday approved a proposal by the Broadcasting Participation Fund (BPF) to expand its mandate to accept applications for public interest participation in proceedings involving the Online News Act. The regulator is directing the BPF, which funds that participation, to file amendments to its by-laws and articles of incorporation to reflect the change by December 6. The commission said it is comfortable with the BPF’s existing structure and processes to properly distribute the funds, even though the organization is now handling matters with two separate pieces of legislation. The concern has been that the money...