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here, Shoan filed a copy of a letter he sent to Heritage Minister Melanie Joly on June 14th (before his appointment was rescinded).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
OTTAWA – Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Mélanie Joly has named a dozen representatives from the Canadian arts and culture sectors as her expert advisory group to assist during her extensive review of Canada’s cultural policies.
Minister Joly said Tuesday that the group (which is almost Royal Commission-like, to us…) was selected on the basis of their personal experience, expertise and ability to generate and inspire innovative ideas, and will “provide advice and ongoing feedback” as she seeks input from Canadians on how best to strengthen the creation, discovery and export of Canadian content in a digital world….
Continue Reading
Office culture needs repair
WITH BOTH THE 2016 NBA and NHL drafts happening this week, sports fans know that among all the “mock drafts” and other analyses about the brand new about-to-be-pros, there are a smattering of additional stories which speculate what the draft will look like next year, in 2017, despite the fact anything can happen in a year and the pure conjecture involved to write a piece like that relies on a great many moving parts falling into place – and not a small amount of gossip and guesswork.
So it is in that spirit I’m going to look…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU and TORONTO – The federal government has relieved Raj Shoan of his duties as CRTC commissioner for Ontario. This is believed to be the first time a commissioner’s appointment was rescinded mid-term.
The Order-in-Council says the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Mélanie Joly, wrote to Shoan “informing him that certain of his actions brought to her attention called into question his capacity to continue serving as a Commissioner of the CRTC, providing him with information regarding these concerns including the documentation upon which they were based, and inviting him to make any representations that he wished…
Continue Reading
BANFF – Canada has a long history of playing catch-up when it comes to setting policy for electronic media, starting with radio in the early part of last century and then with conventional television and cable TV through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. We can’t afford that any more.
The U.S. generally pushed the envelope in launching new media, Canadians adopted the technology and governments here played regulatory catch-up, often preferring early monopolies in radio or TV over competition in the marketplace.
“By first delaying the introduction of television, and then delaying the introduction of competing services, government policy almost guaranteed…
Continue Reading
