OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today Canadian television service providers can no longer distribute the Russian state-funded English-language channel RT (Russia Today) or RT France.
The Commission formally removed both channels from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada after determining their continued distribution “is not in the public interest,” according to a press release.
“RT’s programming is not consistent with the standards against which Canadian services are measured nor the policy objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act,” the release explains.
“The CRTC is also concerned with programming from a foreign country that seeks to undermine the sovereignty of another country, demean Canadians of a particular ethnic background and undermine democratic institutions within Canada.”
Earlier this month, the government issued an order asking the CRTC to hold a hearing to determine whether RT and RT France, which are collectively referred to as “RT” should no longer be authorized for distribution in Canada.
At the time the order was issued, several service providers had already announced they would be removing RT from their channel lineups. This includes Bell, Telus, Rogers, Shaw, Access Communications and VMedia.
The CRTC was given two weeks to make a decision on the matter and accepted interventions from March 3 to March 8.
In making its decision, the CRTC considered over 370 interventions submitted to its public consultation and “the current and escalating sanctions on Russia and Russian individuals, as well as the swift steps taken by other jurisdictions to pull the services,” today’s press release explains.
“Freedom of speech and a range of perspectives are a necessary part of our democracy. However, it is a privilege and not a right to be broadcast in Canada,” said CRTC chair Ian Scott, in the release.
“Foreign channels can be removed from the authorized list should their programming not be consistent with the standards to which Canadian services are held, or their continued distribution no longer serves the public interest, as was the case for RT and RT France.”
In response to the decision, Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez tweeted: “Thank you #CRTC for a quick review of RT in [Canada] – our system works, independently and according to due process and the law. This limits Putin’s ability to justify his invasion of #Ukraine, spread hate and division, and destabilize our democracy.”
Today’s decision only applies to RT and RT France, but they are not the only Russian media authorized for distribution in Canada that Canadians have expressed concerned about.
The Commission acknowledges in its press release “many intervenors submitted comments which applied broadly to Russian-state controlled and sponsored media,” but says the scope of this proceeding was limited to RT and RT France as per the government’s request.
Cartt.ca reached out to the CRTC to see whether there are plans to look into these other channels next. A CRTC spokesperson said via email the Commission is aware “there are other services on the authorized list that offer Russian programming content, some of which are controlled and sponsored by the Russian government.”
Canadians who have concerns about such services can submit complaints and evidence supporting their position to the Commission – evidence can include recordings, screenshots or quotations from the program, and any other evidence “the Commission could use to assess the suitability of the service for distribution in Canada,” the spokesperson said.
Image borrowed from the CRTC’s Twitter page.
