Our Cultural Sovereignty: The Second Century of Canadian Broadcasting
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage List of Recommendations:
Community, Local and Regional Broadcasting - Excerpts
9.1: The Committee recommends that the CRTC require all broadcast distribution undertakings to provide community groups and volunteers with greater access to community television facilities for the production of local and community television programming.
9.2: The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage develop a Community, Local and Regional Broadcast Policy in consultation with key broadcasting industry stakeholders, including public, private, community, educational and not-for-profit broadcasters and related interest groups.
9.3: The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada take steps to ensure that the departments and agencies responsible for the Canadian broadcasting system continue to treat the system as a single system.
9.4: The Committee recommends that the federal government by order-in-council direct the CRTC to revisit its decision to exempt direct-to-home (DTH) satellite services from the provision of community television services.
9.5: The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada investigate the feasibility of creating new digital channels for the distribution of the best of Canada's community, local and regional programming to Canadians.
9.6: The Committee recommends that the CRTC work with broadcasting industry stakeholders to find a solution for the carriage of local signals via direct-to-home (DTH) satellite, to ensure as much local programming as appropriate and feasible is made available to subscribers. This solution, however, should not lead to reduced contributions by DTH satellite service providers to the Canadian Television Fund.
9.7: The Committee recommends that the government by order-in-council direct the CRTC to require Canada's direct-to-home (DTH) satellite service providers to carry the signals of local television stations of the CBC/SRC.
9.8: The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage create a Local Broadcasting Initiative Program (LBIP) to assist in the provision of radio and television programming at the community, local and regional levels.
9.9: The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage in collaboration with the CRTC be required to issue an annual report on community television. This report should include information on training, citizen access and involvement (paid and volunteer), types of support and the hours and range of programming produced.
9.10: The Committee recommends that the changes to community, local and regional broadcasting that result from the implementation of the recommendations made in this report be evaluated by the appropriate department within two years of their introduction and at reasonable intervals thereafter (e.g. every five years). These reports should also be submitted to this Committee.
18.1 The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage, in consultation with the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, develop criteria and guidelines by 30 June 2004, governing the nomination of CRTC commissioners as well as members of the Board of Directors of the CBC.
18.2 The Commission recommends that the CRTC be reduced in size from 13 to 9 commissioners and that the abolition of regional commissioners be considered. Proper consideration should also be given to ensuring that there is a linguistic and regional balance and that a diversity of viewpoints and experiences is reflected in the membership.
18.3 The Commission recommends that to avoid an actual or perceived conflict of interest or unfair advantage or the appearance of it, a person who resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office as a member or senior staff employee of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission shall not hold a paid or unpaid position within an industry regulated by the CRTC for a period of two years after their employment or membership ceases. This requirement shall be made a condition of Commission employment or membership. During this time, they should receive up to 75% of their regular salary if they are unable to find suitable employment other than in the broadcast industry.
19.17 The Commission proposes the creation of a Canadian broadcasting monitor, incorporated
into the Office of the Auditor General, to report annually on how well the objectives of the
Broadcasting Act are being met.
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