Long awaited decision comes years after allies made the same call
OTTAWA – Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne (above) today announced the federal government is banning the use of Huawei and ZTE products and services in the country’s telecommunications systems.
“This follows a thorough review by our independent security agencies and in consultation with our closest allies,” Champagne said, in a press release. “Our government will always protect the safety and security of Canadians and will take any actions necessary to safeguard our critical telecommunications infrastructure.”
A policy statement from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)…
Continue Reading
LONDON, U.K. – Love Nature, Blue Ant Media’s wildlife and nature brand, announced today its launch on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Spain, France and The Netherlands.
“The launch expands Love Nature’s existing partnership with Prime Video Channels, which also carries the channel offering in Canada, Australia, Mexico and Brazil,” a press release explains.
Programming highlights available on Love Nature on Amazon Prime include Big Cat Country (pictured above), Malawi Wildlife Rescue, America’s Wild Seasons, and Great Blue Wild.
“Love Nature’s debut on Prime Video across three new European territories is a great opportunity to share our premium content with new audiences…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – News is important.
This was a sentiment everyone on the panel discussing compensation for news media at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s annual conference yesterday was able to get on board with – but it was also essentially the only thing everyone agreed on as they discussed the government’s recently introduced Bill C-18, known as the Online News Act.
The panel, moderated by Christopher Dornan (above, left), a retired professor at Carleton University, was composed of four people each representing different interests, which made for a lively debate.
Kevin Chan (second from left), the global director of Facebook’s…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canada needs a stable regulatory environment to support investment in digital networks, argued Robert Ghiz (above), president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), during his keynote speech at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s annual conference yesterday.
Ghiz pointed out how during the pandemic, when suddenly people became more reliant on the Internet and mobile communications, there was concern about “whether our digital networks would buckle under the strain.” This did not happen – “Canada’s digital networks rose to the occasion,” he said.
Ghiz attributed this to Canadian network operators having “invested heavily and consistently” in…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER — Telus Communications announced today investments in British Columbia and Alberta totalling more than $34 billion and generating approximately 14,000 new jobs across the two provinces from 2022 to 2026.
Telus says in a press release it is investing $17.5 billion in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum across B.C. over the next four years, which will generate jobs for 5,500 British Columbians at Telus and through its partner ecosystem now through 2026.
In a second press release, Telus says it will invest $17 billion in Alberta over the next four years, generating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans over…
Continue Reading
“We support all forms of competition,” chair says
By Amanda OYE
OTTAWA – As he approaches the end of his term as CRTC chair, Ian Scott (above, right) is brimming with confidence – confidence in the Commission’s recent decisions, in its reputation and in its ability to take on more responsibility.
Speaking during a keynote interview with National Post reporter Anja Karadeglija at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s annual conference being held in Ottawa, Scott listed the Commission’s accomplishments during his time as chair, which is coming to an end.
He noted how hard everyone at the Commission has worked…
Continue Reading
By Ken Kelley
OTTAWA – Less than a week after the House of Commons voted to send Bill C-11 to Canada’s Heritage Committee, a panel gathered at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s 2022 conference weighed the details and realities of the act.
Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, was first introduced in February 2022. Its goals include clarifying the scope of the Broadcasting Act, which dates back to 1991, and determining how the latter should apply equitably to online streaming services.
Today’s panel comes on the heels of a Globe & Mail-Nanos Research poll, which shows…
Continue Reading
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – In a keynote speech at the International Institute of Communications’ annual conference in Ottawa on May 16, Pierre-Karl Péladeau, CEO of Québecor, in his usual frank manner urged Parliament to pass Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. As well, he wants to see more competition in wireless. (Péladeau gave his speech in a combination of English and French.)
Wireless
“Our legislative and regulatory system has to ensure a healthy competition in the market, to benefit consumers but also to ensure the perennity of the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems,” he said.
Péladeau mentioned the Competition Bureau indicated…
Continue Reading
By Howard Law
HERITAGE MINISTER PABLO RODRIGUEZ has promised a CRTC policy directive to implement Bill C-11’s broad mandate to sweep foreign streaming platforms into our national program to create, fund and promote Canadian content.
C-11 has now passed second reading in the House of Commons and is on its way to the Heritage Committee for amendments and further debate. It’s time for the minister to table a draft directive.
What should be in it?
The minister has said he’s receptive to strengthening the definition of Canadian content, currently codified by the CRTC, the Canada Media Fund, and the Heritage tax credit…
Continue Reading
By Dru Oja Jay, Amélie Hinse and Cathy Edwards
CANADA’S COMMUNITY TV stations understand that the federal government’s revisions to the Broadcasting Act represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the challenges of the past two decades: the CRTC’s regulatory capture, the collapse of local news media in smaller markets, and a steady decline in confidence in institutions.
Canada once had a thriving network of cable-managed community TV stations. In the ’80s and ’90s, over 300 studios across the country supported volunteer-driven broadcasting. These stations taught a generation about media production, developing world-famous Canadian talent from Dan Ackroyd to Tom Green to…
Continue Reading
