Unifor members held a media conference and rally in Ottawa on Tuesday “to call out Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) for postponing a scheduled hearing before the House of Commons Heritage Committee to answer for the recent termination of 9% of BCE’s workforce,” says a Unifor press release.
But a Bell representative told Cartt that Tuesday’s hearing postponement was requested by the Heritage committee clerk, who confirmed that to be the case.
“The Clerk of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage requested Bell postpone its appearance at committee that was originally scheduled for…
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Canadian Heritage announced Thursday permanent funding for the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).
The department said it is committing $65 million over five years starting in 2024-2025 and then $13 million annually afterward to the independent and indigenous-led organization fostering of on-screen indigenous storytelling
“The funding will enable more First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to tell their own stories and see themselves reflected on screen,” said a press release.
“It provides stability, increases Indigenous self-determination, and allows the ISO to develop long-term relationships with partners and sponsors,” it added. “This announcement builds off work in the Online Streaming Act to support Indigenous storytelling and help audiences…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC wants to know whether news publishers that fail to strike a deal with online platforms to host their content should be required to immediately use CRTC staff for mediation, rather than an external third party.
The concern from the regulator – which launched the consultation period Wednesday on the implementation of the Online News Act – is that much of the allotted 120-day mediation period could be consumed by a search and then agreement on that third party mediator, notwithstanding the cost to smaller news businesses.
“Given that Commission staff already offers mediation services to resolve certain…
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Foreign investments in Canada’s interactive digital media sector by entities owned or influenced by foreign states — particularly states engaging in activities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security — will be subject to enhanced scrutiny from now on, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne and Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge announced Friday.
For the purpose of the new policies announced by ISED and Heritage clarifying the application of the Investment Canada Act to investments involving interactive digital media (IDM), IDM is defined as digital content and…
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By Connie Thiessen
Canadian Heritage has announced $58.8 million in funding to extend the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) through 2027.
Initially launched in 2019 as a five-year, $50 million program, the initiative provides annual funding for more than 400 journalist positions across the country, with a focus on creating original local journalism in underserved communities. Content produced under the LJI is made available to media organizations through a Creative Commons licence. Friday’s funding announcement brings total support for the initiative to $128.8 million over eight years.
In 2022-23 alone, LJI journalists covered issues and stories in nearly 1,500 communities, including 60 reporters…
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Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge on Friday launched the application process for the next president of CBC/Radio-Canada.
The minister announced the convening of an independent advisory committee consisting of 10 individuals to make the selection ahead of current head Catherine Tait’s term expiry next January. Tait, who became the first woman in the history of the public broadcaster to serve as president and CEO, was extended last June.
“The successful candidate will support CBC/Radio-Canada in transforming the way it engages with Canadians in a rapidly changing environment by making the public broadcaster more digital and more ambitious in its…
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By Glenn O’Farrell, former media executive of Groupe Média TFO, Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Global Television, and TVA
“It’s time to take back the internet,” a recent ad proclaimed.
It ended with an invitation: “So forget the noise. Let’s build the internet we want—not the one we inherited.” Its purpose was to promote a book, Read Write Own, by Chris Dixon, the internet entrepreneur and investor. Dixon’s book is about breaking away from the digital monopolists that dominate today.
As Ottawa ponders the future of CBC/Radio-Canada, where will innovation figure in the plans?
Hopefully, innovation will become the driving force behind a new…
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Media company Stingray announced Monday it is collaborating with a group of independent broadcasters to call on the federal government to support Canada’s local radio industry.
Stingray said a letter has been sent to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge “outlining actionable recommendations to address the economic challenges posed to local radio by the digital shift and the loss of advertising dollars to online platforms.”
The group is asking for the upcoming federal budget to include a commitment from the federal government to dedicate at least 70 per cent…
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Canadian Heritage announced Thursday the appointment of Nathalie Theberge to a five-year term as the CRTC’s vice chair of broadcasting, starting April 3.
Theberge, who has been vice chair and CEO of the Copyright Board of Canada since 2018, is replacing Alicia Barin, who stepped down last month.
Before her stint at the Copyright Board, the long-time public servant has been working in various capacities in the Canadian Heritage department for 18 years, including her latest as the director general of creative marketplace and innovation. In descending order, she was also director general of copyright and international trade; direct…
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The Governor in Council has reappointed René Légère and Jennifer Moore Rattray to CBC’s board of directors, on the recommendation of Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge.
In addition, Marie-Anne Tawil has been appointed as a director of CBC’s board.
All three will serve on the board for a five-year term. Their appointments were announced on Jan. 26.
Based in Moncton, Légère has served on CBC’s board since December 2017. He began his career in communications, working as a host and reporter with Radio-Canada Acadie. Since 2009, he…
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