AS THE FEDERAL government works towards modernizing Canada’s broadcasting system through Bill C-11, its intentions for the future of the country’s national public broadcaster remain murky at best.
The mandate letter provided to Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez makes it clear the government intends to modernize CBC/Radio-Canada, but what that will look like, how it will be done and when remain mysteries.
Among other things, the minister’s mandate letter says the Corporation’s mandate should be updated “to ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of Canadian audiences, with unique programming that distinguishes it from private broadcasters.”
CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate is not…
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Despite ongoing concerns from Canadians
By Amanda OYE
IT WAS NOT that long ago a major topic of discussion in the country was concern about the authorized distribution of the Russian state-funded English-language channel RT.
Cartt.ca readers will recall Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez tweeted to say the government was also concerned and looking into its options. Soon after, service providers began dropping the channel from their channel lineups.
Within the week, the government passed a motion to order the CRTC to “hold a hearing to determine whether RT (formerly known as Russia Today) and RT France (collectively RT) should be…
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Also proposes $5M for new Changing Narratives Fund
OTTAWA – While Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez has sought to reassure Canadians the CRTC will have the resources it needs to take on the new responsibilities proposed for it in the recently introduced Bills C-11 and C-18, today’s budget provides a few actual details.
Tabled by the federal government today, Budget 2022 proposes to provide the CRTC with $8.5 million over two years, beginning in 2022-2023, “to establish a new legislative and regulatory regime to require digital platforms that generate revenues from the publication of news content to…
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OTTAWA – The National Post reported earlier this week the CRTC could be named the regulator in charge of the upcoming legislation that will compel platforms including Google and Facebook to share revenue with Canadian news organizations.
“Several industry sources told the National Post that, following meetings with the government, they expect the CRTC could be tasked with the new regime,” an article from the National Post says.
A government source told the newspaper the CRTC will have a “light touch” and “will not be doing the arbitration itself – that will be left to an independent arbiter that both…
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OTTAWA — Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez (above) and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti announced today a new expert advisory group on online safety as the next step in developing federal legislation to address harmful online content.
The expert advisory group “will be mandated to provide advice on a legislative and regulatory framework that best addresses harmful content online,” reads a government press release.
The announcement comes after the Canadian government said in February it planned to engage a group of experts to help it revise its proposed framework after its public consultation…
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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…
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TORONTO — Blue Ant Media announced today Cottage Life’s hit series Life Below Zero: Canada is returning for a second season beginning Tuesday, March 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT during the channel’s eight-week nationwide free preview event.
Based on the Life Below Zero format created and produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm, the second installment of the Canadian adaptation is a co-production between Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, and Quebecor Content in partnership with APTN.
“Filmed across the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Northern Ontario and Nunavik in Northern Quebec in bone-chilling -51° C weather conditions, Life Below Zero: Canada Season…
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OTTAWA – Two representatives from Rogers Communications appeared (virtually) before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage today to reassure committee members local news will not be worse off after Rogers merges with Shaw.
As Cartt.ca previously reported, there were concerns expressed during the CRTC’s recent hearing on the proposed merger about Rogers’s plan to redirect funding Shaw has previously allocated to Corus’s Global stations to its own City TV stations.
Colette Watson (above), president of Rogers Sports and Media, told the committee the deal will enhance City TV’s local news services.
“Our City TV news stations are located in Winnipeg, Calgary,…
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OTTAWA – Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez confirmed last week government legislation seeking to level the playing field between digital platforms and Canadian news outlets will include broadcasters.
The announcement was made at a Canada 2020 event on the future of news.
“News outlets support an informed citizenry and a healthy democracy. Canadians need access to news and information to fully benefit and participate in democratic society,” a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage said in an emailed statement to Cartt.ca.
The minister’s mandate calls on him to “Swiftly introduce legislation to require digital platforms that generate revenues from the publication of news…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – On Family Day Monday in Ontario, Carol Off (above) was in her CBC office boxing up books and other tangible memories of her time as host of CBC Radio One’s As It Happens (AIH).
On Friday, her CBC family, with help from some past AIH guests – including Margaret Atwood and Romeo Dallaire – will pay tribute to Off on her final day after spending nearly 16 years at the helm of the public broadcaster’s must-listen-to weeknight current events radio program.
She will miss accumulating more intangible memories from interviews with people who touched or angered…
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