Never over the last 50 years have the CRTC’s decisions been as hotly contested. Over the last two months, no fewer than five appeals to federal cabinet have been launched, requesting the cancellation of decisions made by the outgoing Chair of the Commission, Jean-Pierre Blais. There is no precedent in the history of the CRTC for such an avalanche of cabinet appeals and such a degree of general exasperation.
Over the last few days, the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) have jointly appealed the CRTC’s decisions on licence renewals for the major private broadcasters.
“This is a ruling handed down by the outgoing chair at the CRTC, a Harper appointee who called for an end to nearly every support for film and television from Canadian hiring requirements to tax credits. Now, the Trudeau government has to decide whether to stand with Mr. Harper’s man, or stand with audiences and creators,” said Tim Southam, president of the Directors Guild of Canada.On the francophone side, the appeals filed by SARTEC (writers), AQPM (producers), ARRQ (directors), UDA (performers), AQTIS (technicians) and ADISQ (music recording), accuse the CRTC of failing to meet its obligations and ignoring “the objectives of Canadian broadcasting policy.”
Michel Morin – HuffPost Canada – July 7, 2017.
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