Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (crtc) Needed or Not?

Tanya Latham-Corbett

ID 880745

Cape Breton University

        What is Canadian culture?  Does it need protecting and preserving?  Who should be mandated the task of formulating rules and regulation with formulas and percentages of specific “Canadian Content” which citizens must have access to as a way of ensuring and maintaining that which makes Canada unique?  Interestingly, Canada’s need to protect and control its airways began long before one might have thought. What is so endearing and unique about this country that even in 1930 it was felt the country needed an organization to promote and protect a just evolving industry?  It is unlikely the people of the1930 could have foreseen their wisdom, in that television, radio and telecommunication would become such a hugely dominant factor in our daily lives, that it does need ruling and regulating.  

        In 1932, the Canadian government created the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), which was recommended by the First Royal Commission on Broadcasting.  It was felt Canada needed an independent regulatory board to supervise nationally broadcast networks.  This brought about the creation of both the (CBC) Canadian Broadcast Corporation in 1936, and the Canadian Radio-television Commission (CTRC) is 1968.  As well, the Broadcasting Act of 1969 not only created the CTRC, which was designed to limit foreign ownership and requires Canadian content in programming, it also cemented the CBC’s position as a national broadcaster.  Another renaming in 1976 saw the CRTC become known as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission, which expanded its jurisdiction to include telecommunication companies.  While radio, television and telecommunication are fair game for the rulings of the CRTC, it would seem the internet is one place it is not willing to try and exercise its strength.  In both 1999 and 2009, the CRTC refused to seek to regulate programming on the internet or mobile devices.  

        The CRTC is an independent public organization given its power by the Parliamentary Minister of Heritage, to ensure that broadcasting and telecommunication systems serve the best interests of the Canadian population. The organization can have up to thirteen full-time members, which usually includes a chairperson, two vice chairpersons and six part-time commissioners.  Cabinet must appoint all of these members, and contract terms for commissioners can vary from five to ten years.  The expectation is that the CTRC issues and enforces regulations, which will guarantee Canadian have access to programming which represents Canadian culture and values. It does this by assuring the creativity and talent of Canadians is exercised in a way that demonstrates Canada’s multicultural, bilingual and aboriginal heritage. The CRTC has broad principles which are encompassed by the Broadcasting Act passed in 1968.  For this essay, the concentration will be on the television and radio programming guidelines amended in 2015.  The changes to the regulation of the CTRC were meant to reflect the changes in broadcasting brought about by the increase of internet access to programming. The CRTC felt it needed to amend its stand and plan for the future of television as the ever expanding internet environment encroaches on yet another aspect of life with the potential to affect the traditional Canadian ideals and beliefs. As stated by Jean-Pierre Blais CRTC Chairman regarding the new changes “The system cannot remain frozen in time when the world around us is changing.” (Bradshaw)

        These new changes will lessen the quantity of programs or hours of programming needed to meet current regulations. While this may initially seem counterproductive, it is done to increase the quality of new programs.  The basic idea is that with lower hourly or percentage requirements rather then stretching resources to make many productions; producers will now be able to conserve resources for few projects which will make them better.  In an unusual move; the CRTC has decreased the amount of Canadian content during daytime hours from 55% for local networks to 0 and for specialty channels the new number is 35%.  However, the prime time requirement will still be 50% Canadian content between 6 pm and 11 pm. By loosening the restriction on the daytime quota, the CRTC hopes to allow the stations to offer programs which will encourage viewers to watch channels which might have been suffering due to the influx of more popular American television, via satellite and internet streaming.  These changes are also meant to boost the production of more significant and higher standard production. In short the idea is to create better television that will be watched by more people, rather than creating substandard programs which are supported only because of their Canadian connection but do not achieve any significant audience level.