OTTAWA – The CRTC today launched a consultation on whether stock footage costs should continue to be included in the criteria used for Canadian program certification.
Both the Commission and the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) have specific criteria for determining whether a production can be certified as “Canadian”. This includes (for both) a minimum 75% expenditure threshold paid to Canadians or Canadian businesses operating in the country for specific services costs.
Right now, the Commission categorizes stock footage as a “services” cost, which means it counts within the 75% expenditure threshold.
The Commission’s call for comments notes CAVCO announced in…
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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…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – On Tuesday, the Senate transportation and communications committee heard pointed opposition to a bill that would give the CRTC the ability to further regulate the online realm to support Canadian content.
The committee is currently in a pre-study phase in its examination of Bill C-11, the highly contentious legislation that drew strict rebuke from witnesses Tuesday.
The first hour was devoted to former CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein and University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist. The first formally proposed specific amendments to various sections to narrow the scope of the bill.
“(…) I certainly do not agree…
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BILL C-11, THE Online Streaming Act, rightly raises important questions about transparency and trust — but not necessarily the ones that its critics would have you think.
I believe that C-11 is generally a good law that does what it purports to do: modernize the Broadcasting Act to ensure that online streamers and platforms play by the same rules as Canadian broadcasters do when it comes to investing in and promoting Canadian content….
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met to consider a draft agenda to conduct a pre-study of Bill C-11 during which it was agreed that the department of Canadian Heritage, the CRTC, Konrad von Finckenstein, Michael Geist and Pierre Trudel will be heard in the week of June 20 to 22.
The Department of Justice and the Privacy Commissioner were also mentioned.
Last night, the Heritage Committee finished clause-by-clause review of the bill, and today the chair reported the bill back to the House with amendments.
After it passes third reading,…
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OTTAWA – In a series of meetings yesterday that lasted past midnight and can only be described as chaotic, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage made it through clause-by-clause review of Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, and committee chair Hedy Fry reported the bill back to the House of Commons today with amendments.
Due to a motion passed in the House (which former Green Party leader and current MP Elizabeth May expressed disapproval of several times during the meetings), the committee had a limited amount of time in which to debate amendments. Two of three…
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By Bill Roberts
BANFF – One of the more nicely grounded sessions so far at the 2022 Banff World Media Festival (BWMF) featured Ian Scott (above, right), chairperson and CEO of the CRTC, and was moderated by Monika Ille (left), CEO of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. (APTN).
APTN has long been concerned that smaller broadcasters like theirs would be at risk under Bill C-11 because they do not possess the market clout to negotiate with online, streaming distributors without CRTC help.
So, it was a nice piece of meaningful and enlightened programming to have the accomplished and trilingual Ille in…
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By Bill Roberts
BANFF – Today the Banff World Media Festival (BWMF) featured a brief, whistle-stop appearance by Pablo Rodriguez (above), minister of Canadian Heritage.
Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the Canada Media Fund, and a strong advocate for Bill C-11, The Online Streaming Act, provided his introduction – but not before extolling “the stellar job” done by BWMF staff in organizing the in-person event and breaking out into several bars of delightful song!
It appeared to me to be a riff on the old Frank Sinatra Summer Wind, but with revamped lyrics appealing to the promise and possibilities of getting…
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THOSE WHO ARE CLOSELY following the approval process of the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications will know the outside date for closing the transaction was extended from March 15, 2022, to June 13, 2022, and was extended again last month to July 31, 2022.
So, we are already looking in the rear-view mirror at one (soon to be two) outside closing dates.
What is going on? A lot.
Competition Tribunal
Last month, the Commissioner of Competition Matthew Boswell filed an application to the Competition Tribunal seeking to block the merger. He also filed an application seeking…
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By Irene Berkowitz
BILL C-11, THE ONLINE STREAMING ACT, is Canada’s second attempt at modernizing media legislation. As many of us remember, in June 2021, its nearly identical predecessor, Bill C-10, failed to pass before Parliament dissolved.
Bill C-11’s progress through Parliament has been strategically plotted and the 2022 bill is likely to pass. However, since virtually every Canadian consumes media, every Canadian should know what’s been happening recently in Parliament.
For policy wonks like me who watch Parlvu, the Canadian Parliament webcast, recent episodes have been unforgettable. Twenty hours, May 24-June 2, of expert witness testimony to the…
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