OVER THE SUMMER, our shirt-challenged prime minister and national rock band reminded us that we stand unique in the world. As a country, we caught a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror. Turns out we’re not just sexy: Canadians are passionate about being Canadian. And yes, the Broadcasting Act is part of that.
With dark clouds looming over much of the world, Canadians are taking stock of who we are through the invisible web of culture. It lets us explore ideas and values, and dream our collective future. Culture connects our communities in all our glorious diversities.
Television has a vital…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Concerns over “allegations of systemic and overt racism” within the CRTC have prompted two community organizations to petition Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to reinstate former Ontario CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan.
In a letter dated September 6 that was also copied to Governor General David Johnston and CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, the Community Media Advocacy Centre and Urban Alliance on Race Relations noted that in the Commission’s 48 year history, only two of 103 first-time appointments have been granted to visible minorities, and that no visible minority or Indigenous person has ever been appointed to serve…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Globalive Capital has sold off Yak Communications, OneConnect Services, and its hospitality communications provider Canopco in two separate transactions, as it eyes new ventures and plans for expansion.
Long-distance provider Yak Communications has been scooped up by independent telecom Distributel Communications, while OneConnect Services and Canopco were acquired by Accelerated Connections Inc. (ACI), a provider of private IP connectivity and public internet services to businesses in Canada. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
"Yak Communications, OneConnect Services and Canopco have been an important part of Globalive Capital's portfolio and brands that are an integral part of our…
Continue Reading
Chaiman Blais should not have been witness and adjudicator
TORONTO – Former Ontario CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan won his first day in court over CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais.
Federal Court justice Russell Zinn on Friday said in a 50-page ruling that having chairman Blais as both witness and adjudicator was unfair and because of that, set aside the finding of workplace harassment found against Shoan. The case was heard in June.
Shoan was originally accused of workplace harassment by former executive director of communications Amanda Cliff in 2014. The case against Shoan was over seven different email threads…
Continue Reading
THE CRTC ISSUED a decision ACTRA didn’t like and criticized it in a press release last week. CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais didn’t much care for that press release and on Wednesday sent the actor’s union a letter saying so.
Now, today we have a letter sent back to the chair from ACTRA president Ferne Downey (right) defending its position.
In his letter to ACTRA yesterday, Blais defended how the Commission reached its decision on a new policy for Certified Independent Production Funds (CIPFs), noting that the public proceedings held over the past two years made for a…
Continue Reading
CBC'S OLYMPIC COVERAGE this month is a good starting point for a wider discussion about Canadian broadcasting in our multicultural country.
If we want to be consumer-centric in our approach to regulating the broadcast system, and multiculturalism is one priority pillar of the system, then it stands to reason that all Canadians would be better served if program rights holders were prohibited from squatting on unexploited multilingual rights – especially in the case of major global events.
This past month, Canada missed a great opportunity to use this global unifying event to assist in the never ending effort to…
Continue Reading
“When the colour of the night
And all the smoke for one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
A forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
Let's get friendship right
Get life day-to-day”
“IT’S A GOOD LIFE If You Don’t Weaken” may be one of the few wonderful Tragically Hip songs the band left tucked under Gord Downie’s magic hat on Saturday night. But the transcendent nature of the show from Kingston was rife with other epiphanies, not the least of which concerns a late-breaking story on our CBC.
We spend so much time today –…
Continue Reading
Chair, Minister, respond, too
GATINEAU – After former Ontario CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan filed a new judicial review application last week which alleges institutional bigotry and many other workplace issues within the Commission as part of the reasons why his firing should be reversed, those directly affected by his statements have responded.
In his legal documents filed with the Federal Court last week, which we reported on here, Shoan filed a copy of a letter he sent to Heritage Minister Melanie Joly on June 14th (before his appointment was rescinded). That letter detailed a number of offensive statements which Shoan…
Continue Reading
Says commissioner Vennard conducted herself inappropriately, too
TORONTO – In a judicial review application filed with the Federal Court on Tuesday, former Ontario regional CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan alleges institutional bigotry within the Commission as part of the justifications why his firing should be reversed.
Documents filed by Shoan also say a serious complaint against another commissioner, Alberta and NWT commissioner Linda Vennard, was swept aside and that shows an unfair inconsistency in how staff complaints about the two commissioners have been treated.
He also seeks an immediate stay of the Order-in-Council which rescinded his appointment, so he can return to his…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has named Andrew Addison as its VP of communications and marketing.
Prior to this appointment, Addison (pictured) worked closely with the CMPA as a consultant at communications firm FleishmanHillard. He also held the role manger of media relations at the Canadian Bankers Association.
Based in Toronto, Addison will report to president and CEO Reynolds Mastin and provide strategic direction, leading the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies.
“With his breadth of experience, Andrew brings a deep understanding of what it takes to align marketing and communications functions to drive broad strategic…
Continue Reading
