Search Results for: Canadian Heritage

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Minister mandate letters are out, providing further insight into government priorities

By Denis Carmel OTTAWA – Last week, the Canadian Government published the mandate letters the prime minister gives to cabinet ministers. Mandate letters have existed in many shapes and forms for a long time but in 2015, the Liberal Government made them public for the first time. They have now become part of the government’s ritual after each election. It starts with the electoral platform, followed by the appointment of ministers, the Speech from the Throne that flows right into the mandate each minister is given. Lobbyists and corporations work diligently to ensure their issues are mentioned. Considering the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Parliamentary secretaries and committee members appointed

By Denis Carmel After the election on Sept. 20, 2021, the appointment of ministers on Oct. 26 and the appointment of critics on Nov. 11, the House of Commons reopened with the Speech from the Throne on Nov. 23. The parliamentary secretaries were later named on Dec. 3, the members of the Heritage and Industry committees were chosen on Dec. 9 with the chairs of these committees being elected on Dec. 13 and 14 respectively. Despite the fact this is the continuation of the old government and some cynics could say the election did not change anything,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

C-10: The Legal Issues II

By Denis Carmel After having written what was more of a commentary than a story yesterday, let us now report on the content of the PIAC-FRPC Conference on C-10: The Legal Issues. I believe it was a great success – 141 people registered and 70 stayed until the “bitter” end. This could become a yearly event to replace the National Conference on Communications Law and Policy convened by the Law Society of Upper Canada every two years.
After the technical Zoom issues were ironed out, the webinar began with a presentation by Konrad von Finckenstein, past president of the CRTC and commissioner… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Online harms consult: Submissions show concern over site-blocking proposal

Government will not publish submissions received   By Amanda OYE  GATINEAU, QC – Comments submitted to the federal government’s consultation into harmful content online highlight a multitude of issues with its proposals for addressing the issue as well as with the consultation process itself. The submissions to the consultation are not easy to come by. The deadline for comments passed in September, but the government decided it would not publish the ones it received. A spokesperson for Canadian Heritage told Cartt.ca via email the submissions will only be available if an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request is made because the submissions… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Hollywood Suite to air full day of programming for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

TORONTO — Hollywood Suite announced today it will support the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by presenting a full day of programming from Indigenous filmmakers and producers on Sept. 30. The programming will air on Hollywood Suite’s 2000s channel and will spotlight the culture, history and perspectives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, says a press release. Hollywood Suite’s special programming will begin on Sept. 29 at 7:20 p.m. ET with the premiere of Darlene Naponse’s award-winning film Falls Around Her (2018), which follows a world-famous Anishinaabe musician (played by Tantoo Cardinal) “who leaves everything behind to return… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

“Justin Trudeau” responds

A commentary on what our PM could have said in response By Denis Carmel Dear Mr. O’Brien, THANK YOU FOR providing your opinion on how to deal with a Bill to Modernize the Broadcasting Act. One of the main perks of my job is all the free advice I get all the time, all the time. You will appreciate that part of the way forward I cannot control nor predict but let me share as candidly as I can my thoughts at this venture. I am inclined to appoint someone new to serve as Minister of Canadian Heritage. Steven Guilbeault did serve with… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Cogeco and CBC to broadcast specials for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

COGECO AND CBC both announced yesterday plans to broadcast special programming to honour the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. Cogeco announced “YourTV stations throughout Ontario will be airing special programming produced by Indigenous Peoples for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” a company press release says. The programming, which will air from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., includes Cultural Mindfulness, directed by George Couchie, We Are Still Here, directed by Dwayne Cloes and Wawahte: Residential School Survivors, directed by John Sanfilippo. “Wawahte was originally written by Kingston… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CACTUS accepting new applications for Local Journalism Initiative funding

OTTAWA — The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) and the Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec (the Fédération) announced today they are now accepting applications for a new round of funding from the federal government’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI). The announcement follows the Government of Canada’s renewal of CACTUS’s funding to support local journalists and communities under the LJI. CACTUS’s LJI contract with the Department of Canadian Heritage was extended until March 31, 2024, and includes an additional funding allocation for 2021-22 and 2022-23 to focus on underrepresented voices, says a press release. As a result of… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Election outcome could lead to long wait for new broadcasting legislation

Five little words and a world of difference By Doug Barrett It’s hard to say how much the detailed party platforms matter in an election. In this one, each of the main platforms contains dedicated sections on the arts/culture/broadcasting sectors and it’s instructive to have a look at them. To start, there appears to be complete unanimity on the question of ensuring the “foreign web giants contribute to the creation and promotion of Canadian stories and music” (Liberal); requiring “digital streaming giants to reinvest a significant portion of Canadian gross revenues” (Conservative); making sure that “Netflix, Facebook, Google and other digital media… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Broadcasters and telecoms received over $300M from Covid wage subsidy programs in 2020

By Denis Carmel CARTT.CA HAS LEARNED large Canadian broadcasting and telecommunication enterprises collected significant amounts from the federal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) in 2020 and will likely receive more for 2021. The following companies have, according to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), received subsidies: BCE: $122.9 million Québecor: $3.1 million Rogers: $90.5 million Telus: $38.6 million Stingray: $25.2 million Corus: $34.9 million Pelmorex: $6.3 million* According to the administer these programs, “a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of its… Continue Reading