By Ahmad Hathout
A former CRTC commissioner will go to court on Monday armed with new evidence he says will show why the Federal Court got it wrong when it dismissed his case for judicial review of his second termination from the regulator.
Former commissioner of Ontario Balraj Shoan (above) was twice fired by then-Heritage Minister Melanie Joly in 2016 and 2017 for allegations of workplace harassment, engaging in inappropriate stakeholder contact, speaking negatively of the regulator in public, and refusing to respect appropriate access to information policy.
Shoan, who was appointed by Heritage to the CRTC…
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LONDON – Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) announced it has granted $5.3 million in funding to expand fibre-optic broadband in Oxford County.
Seven projects will bring high speed internet to 1,670 homes and businesses within the townships of Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra.
In total the county will receive $9.9 million in broadband upgrades, thanks to $4.6 million in contributions from the three internet service providers who will be doing the construction.
SWIFT has signed an agreement with Quadro Communications to deploy fibre along more than 106 kilometres of roadway within the Township of Zorra to deliver high-speed internet…
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TORONTO – When Canadians were asked to think on a top-of-mind basis of companies which are championing diversity and inclusion for Canadians of varied backgrounds, Walmart, Nike, RBC, Tim Hortons and TD emerged as the top five according to the phase I results of Solutions Research Group’s new Diversity & Inclusion Monitor syndicated study.
Walmart was the top-ranked company mentioned by Canadians in Western Canada, Quebec and Atlantic Canada and was ranked number seven in Ontario, behind TD and Apple. In follow-up interviews, consumers were particularly likely to point out the one reason they believe Walmart is a leader is…
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MORE TV DISTRIBUTORS in Canada are adding CBC/Radio-Canada’s 24-hours news channels, CBC News Network and ICI RDI, to the lineup of channels available to all of their subscribers.
The public broadcaster says it is collaborating with the country’s TV distributors as Canadians face a resurgence of Covid-19. Back in mid-March at the beginning of the pandemic, many of Canada’s TV distributors made the two news channels available to their subscribers.
CBC News Network is now available to all subscribers on Bell TV, Rogers, Cogeco, Eastlink, SaskTel and others, with Telus and Shaw joining next week. In addition, as of tomorrow,…
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TORONTO — The new industry-wide initiative HireBIPOC.ca has already surpassed 2,300 members in its first week of operation, co-founding partner Bell Media announced today.
HireBIPOC.ca is a web portal which provides an online roster of Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) media and entertainment professionals who work as creatives and crew in Canada’s screen-based industries. When the web portal launched on October 5, it had 500 members signed up.
“We are inspired and heartened by the feedback and response we have received from the Black, Indigenous, and people of colour creative community, the industry, and the public. The…
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TORONTO — Rogers Communications announced today it has doubled the size of its 5G network to reach residents and businesses in 130 towns and cities across the country.
Previously, as recently as early September, Rogers had said it would expand its 5G network to reach more than 60 markets by the end of the year.
Powered by Ericsson, Rogers 5G wireless service is available exclusively on Rogers Infinite and Rogers for Business Shared Unlimited Data plans at no extra charge.
“We’re excited to roll out 5G to more communities large and small so that Canadians can use the latest 5G devices…
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OTTAWA – Rogers and 1Valet announced today the two companies have teamed up to launch Rogers Smart Community for Rogers Ignite customers living in condos and other multi-residential communities.
The new platform “consolidates building and management activities into one seamless experience,” which aims to provide “a unified experience for residents, property managers, and their staff.” The partnership is a five-year deal.
Residents will have access to a smartphone-centric living experience, if they want, which includes hands-free building access, video guest verification, and facial recognition access. “For operations staff, the platform enables remote multi-building management, while also bringing together otherwise disconnected building…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Two dozen applicants which have been denied Connect to Innovate money have yet to be notified of their status, despite the government’s intention to give them time to prepare applications for the CRTC’s Broadband Fund and the new Universal Broadband Fund.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has made it clear, according to a 2019 briefing note obtained by this publication, that it wanted to inform and prepare unsuccessful CTI applicants for other funding opportunities in the CRTC’s $750-million program, which has already closed a second round of applications, and in the government’s delayed $1 billion…
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GATINEAU — In what could be a precedent-setting proceeding, Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications have asked the CRTC to issue an order which would grant reasonable compensation to the two companies for the costs of relocating their transmission lines along (or on, over, or under) provincial highways in British Columbia.
Rogers and Shaw are seeking compensation for costs associated with mandatory relocations of their transmission lines due to B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) work or requirements, regardless of who owns the supporting structures for the transmission lines. In virtually all cases, the telephone poles supporting Rogers’ and Shaw’s…
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TORONTO — Announced earlier this year, the HireBIPOC initiative created by BIPOC TV & Film and Bell Media launched today with CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media throwing their support behind the industry-wide effort to facilitate the hiring of Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) media and entertainment professionals.
With more than 500 members already registered, HireBIPOC is a web portal which provides an online roster of Canadian BIPOC creatives and crew working in screen-based industries.
Bell Media, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media have committed to making the use of HireBIPOC a specific condition…
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