Category: CRTC

The Liberals’ Internet Censorship Bill Is Back, and It’s More Concerning Than Ever

Commentary  So far, no one has offered a better description of the federal government’s efforts to control the internet than Charlie Angus. Calling last fall for regulation that addressed the use of algorithms by social media platforms such as Facebook, the veteran NDP MP called Bill C-10 a “political dumpster fire” that gave an ill-equipped…


CRTC Begins Hearings Into Rogers’ Takeover of Shaw Communications

Hearings are set to begin today at the federal telecoms regulator on Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposed $26 billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. The CRTC will hear from Rogers on behalf of Shaw, while respondents including Telus Communications Inc., BCE Inc., and numerous interested parties are scheduled to speak throughout the week of hearings. The…


Liberals’ ‘Time Allocation’ Motion to Limit Study of Bill C-10 Draws Flak

A “time allocation” motion seeking to limit the study of Bill C-10, a controversial bill critics see as the government’s attempt to restrict freedom of expression, was adopted in the House of Commons on June 7. In a 181–147 vote, the minority Liberals with the backing of the Bloc Quebecois reduced the study of Bill…


Bill That Would Allow CRTC to Regulate Social Media Faces Criticism

An amendment to a bill that would give Canada’s broadcasting regulatory agency new powers to regulate user-generated content on the internet and social media has been criticized as the government’s latest attempt to restrict freedom of expression. Bill C-10, which amends the Broadcasting Act, is currently under clause-by-clause debate in the Liberal-dominant Heritage committee. But…


CRTC Chairman Questions CBC Head Over Transparency Amid Broadcaster’s Online Push

OTTAWA—Oversight and transparency took centre stage on Day 1 of a nearly three-week review of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s broadcasting licences, as the rush to furnish digital content butts up against regulatory barriers. The CBC is asking Canada’s telecommunications regulator to renew licences for its various English- and French-language audio and audiovisual programming services. CBC…


CRTC to Launch Hearing on CBC’s Application to Renew Broadcasting Licences

OTTAWA—Canada’s telecommunications regulator will launch a multi-day review today of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s broadcasting licences. The CRTC says electronic hearings will begin at 10 a.m. before its five-member panel. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will first hear from the public broadcaster which is seeking to renew licences for its various English- and French-language…