The Online Streaming Act, which amended the Broadcasting Act, requires the CRTC to modernize the Canadian broadcasting framework and ensure that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.

Immediately after the new legislation was adopted, the CRTC published a regulatory plan and launched four public consultations, including one on what base contributions online services must make to support the Canadian broadcasting system.

During this consultation on contributions, the CRTC received more than 360 detailed submissions and held a three-week public hearing where it heard from over 120 groups. Based on the public record, the CRTC is requiring online streaming services to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to support the Canadian broadcasting system. These obligations will start in the 2024-2025 broadcast year and will provide an estimated $200 million per year in new funding.

The funding will be directed to areas of immediate need in the Canadian broadcasting system, such as local news on radio and television, French-language content, Indigenous content, and content created by and for equity-deserving communities, official language minority communities, and Canadians of diverse backgrounds.

Online streaming services will have some flexibility to direct parts of their contributions to support Canadian television content directly.

As a quasi-judicial tribunal, the CRTC will continue to balance consulting widely with moving quickly to build the new regulatory framework.

“Today’s decision will help ensure that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content. The CRTC will continue to move quickly, listen carefully, and take action as we implement the new legislation.” – Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC

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With the adoption of the Online News Act (Bill C-18), the CRTC is sharing its plan for setting up the bargaining framework for fair negotiations between news organizations in Canada and the largest online platforms.

The CRTC will launch a public consultation this fall to gather views. All comments received will form part of the public record and inform the CRTC’s decision. Everyone who is interested should check out the CRTC’s plan and participate in the upcoming consultation.

• The CRTC will:
  • oversee negotiations once the bargaining framework is in place; and
  • publish an annual report prepared by an independent auditor on its website on the impact of the Online News Act.

• Learn more about the CRTC’s regulatory plan
• Statement by the CRTC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Vicky Eatrides, on the Online News Act

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Informing Canadians About Changes To Local News

No News Is Bad News For Canada: CAJ Urges Meta, Google, Government, And News Organizations To Uphold The Public’s Right To Know

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The CRTC is launching a consultation to improve its Broadband Fund, which helps bring high-speed Internet and mobile services to communities across Canada.

The CRTC is proposing to make the application process faster and easier. The CRTC also wants to create a new funding stream for Indigenous communities and to fund projects that would increase the reliability of rural and remote networks.

“Canadians need access to high-quality Internet and mobile services for every part of our daily lives. Our Broadband Fund is already improving access in over 200 rural, remote and Indigenous communities across Canada. By making changes to our Fund, we can help to connect even more Canadians to the services they need.” – Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC

A summary of the notice of consultation is also available in various Indigenous languages.

The CRTC is accepting comments until July 21, 2023. Comments can be submitted by:

• filling out the online form,
• writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2, or
• sending a fax to (819) 994-0218.

For questions or more information on how to participate in this consultation, contact the CRTC by email at FLB-BBF@crtc.gc.ca or by telephone at 1 (877) 249-2782.

All comments received will form part of the public record and will inform the CRTC’s decision.

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To support Canadian artists, the CRTC is:

• upholding requirements for Canadian content and French-language vocal music
• ensuring that Canadian and French-language vocal music requirements can no longer be circumvented through montages of popular non-Canadian songs
• setting an expectation that commercial stations play at least 5% of songs from emerging Canadian artists, and
• launching, in the near future, a consultation that will examine the approach to Canadian content development (CCD) contributions by commercial radio broadcasters and ensure that funding reaches diverse initiatives.

To provide more flexibility to the radio industry, the CRTC is:

• moving towards new criteria to determine if a song is Canadian, and refining some content categories that will broaden the eligible songs that stations can play to meet their Canadian content requirements
• working to implement a new digital monitoring system and open music database that will reduce the regulatory burden on broadcasters
• eliminating the “hits policy” in Montreal and Ottawa–Gatineau; and
• allowing broadcasters to operate one more FM station in the same market, under certain conditions.

To increase support for Indigenous content and voices within mainstream radio, the CRTC also expects commercial radio stations to include Indigenous music in their playlists and to report annually on the amount of Indigenous content aired. Additionally, the Commission intends to gather information on the different funds and initiatives that help support, promote and ensure the sustainability of the Indigenous content through the launch of a follow-up proceeding.

Meanwhile, the Commission continues the co-development of a new Indigenous broadcasting policy with Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Some of the outcomes from that process may have an impact on commercial radio stations, as well as other sectors of the broadcasting industry.

“The radio industry is in a transition period and is competing with digital services for listeners. A flexible approach will help it remain competitive, while ensuring that Canadians continue to have access to the content that serves their needs and interests. Radio is a very important medium to entertain, inform, discover new artists and ensure that local voices are heard.”

– Ian Scott, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC

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The CRTC found that Bell Canada denied permit applications for access to its telephone poles from Videotron, its main competitor in Quebec. As a result, Videotron was not able to access Bell Canada’s poles, which delayed its network deployment and created a competitive advantage for Bell Canada.

The CRTC’s decision issued today sets the penalties for these three violations of the Telecommunications Act at $2.5 million each.

“It is vitally important that the market for telecommunications services be fair and competitive so that Canadians can enjoy a range of services from different providers. Today’s decision underscores this point and demonstrates that we will not hesitate to use the tools at our disposal to take action to promote compliance when a company’s actions violate these principles.” – Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO, CRTC

• In 2020, Videotron filed an application requesting that the CRTC issue orders relating to Bell Canada’s processing of access permit applications and granting of access permits to its support structures.
• The CRTC found that Bell Canada had breached its Tariff and its Support Structure Licence Agreement and was therefore in breach of section 24 and subsections 25(1) and 27(2) of the Telecommunications Act.
• These violations were judged to be serious enough to grant Bell Canada a competitive advantage over Videotron, which is its main competitor in Quebec.
• In April 2021, the CRTC launched a consultation to determine whether it was appropriate to impose a monetary penalty on Bell Canada because of the violations, and if so, what the amount should be.
• Penalties should promote compliance with the Telecommunications Act and deter future non-compliance.

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Among other considerations, and consistent with its role, the CRTC is seeking information on the following questions:

• Should the CRTC establish a national three-digit number for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services?
• How much time would it take to implement a national three-digit number?
• Should a three-digit number be deployed across Canada at the same time or phased in?
• Should the caller’s location information be captured automatically when dialing the three-digit number?
• Should Canadians be able to send text messages directly to the three-digit number?

The CRTC is welcoming comments until September 1, 2021. Canadians can participate by:

• filling out the online form;
• writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON2; or
• sending a fax to (819) 994-0218.

Quick facts

• There are approximately 4,000 deaths by suicide in Canada every year, which represent approximately 10 deaths every day. Some populations are at a significantly higher risk, including men, youth, those aged 45 to 59, and certain Indigenous communities.
• The CRTC’s role in establishing three-digit numbers is limited to administering phone numbers and requiring telecommunications service providers to implement this three-digit number across Canada.
• The CRTC does not have authority over the organizations that provide emergency services via a three-digit number. This is why this consultation will not examine matters related to the governance and coordination of organizations providing mental health crisis and suicide prevention services, as well as the funding of those organizations.
• In the meantime, Canadians experiencing mental health distress can obtain assistance by dialing toll-free 1-833-456-4566. Residents of Quebec are encouraged to call 1-866-APPELLE.

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This information will help the CRTC better understand how the radio industry can meet the needs and interests of Canadians in both official languages. It will also help the CRTC determine how best to update its regulations to ensure Canada’s commercial radio industry remains competitive in a digital environment.

Canadians are encouraged to share their opinions by completing an online survey by November 26, 2020.

Canadians can also submit their comments by February 1, 2021, using one of the following methods:

• filling out the online form
• writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON2, or
• sending a fax to 819-994-0218.

All submissions will form part of this proceeding and will be added to the public record.

The information gathered through this public consultation will help the Commission assess the relevance and effectiveness of the rules currently governing commercial radio in Canada, and determine the specific issues to be addressed in the new policy.

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