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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-85

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Reference: 2015-433

Ottawa, 4 March 2016

Wawatay Native Communications Society
Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Application 2015-0421-7, received 6 May 2015
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
18 November 2015  

Type B Native FM radio station in Sioux Lookout

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a Type B Native FM radio station in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.

Application

  1. Wawatay Native Communications Society (Wawatay) filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a Type B Native FM radio station in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.

  2. Wawatay is a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors.

  3. Wawatay was granted authority to operate a Type B Native radio station in Sioux Lookout in Type B Native radio station in Sioux Lookout, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-646, 27 November 2006. Although Wawatay launched the station, it failed to notify the Commission and consequently no licence was issued. The current application seeks to rectify that situation.

  4. The station would operate at 89.9 MHz (channel 210A1) with an effective radiated power of 224 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height above average terrain of 18.5 metres).

  5. Wawatay stated that it would broadcast an average of 126 hours of programming in each broadcast week, including at least 100 hours of local programming. The station would devote 120 hours in each broadcast week to Cree-, Ojibway- and Oji-Cree-language programming and would feature interviews, live festivals, concerts, jamborees, sporting and spiritual/cultural events, as well as some English- and French-language programming.

  6. Approximately 81 hours of programming per broadcast week would be devoted to spoken word content, including 10 hours of pure news. The remainder of the programming would be devoted to a musical format consisting of pop, rock, dance and country, along with First Nation, Inuit and Métis music. Wawatay indicated that it would ensure that 40% of all music broadcast would be performed or composed by Aboriginal talent.

Commission’s decision

  1. The Commission is satisfied that the application is consistent with the provisions for Type B Native radio stations set out in Native Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1990-89, 20 September 1990. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Wawatay Native Communications Society for a broadcasting licence to operate a Type B Native FM radio programming undertaking in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Secretary General

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-85

Terms and conditions of licence for the Type B Native FM radio programming undertaking in Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2022.

The station will operate at 89.9 MHz (channel 210A1) with an effective radiated power of 224 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height above average terrain of 18.5 metres).

The Commission reminds the applicant that pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

Further, the licence for this undertaking will be issued once it has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 4 March 2018. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted in writing at least 60 days before this date.

Conditions of licence

  1. In each broadcast week, the licensee shall devote at least 35% of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety. 

    For the purposes of this condition of licence, the terms “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

  2. If the licensee originates 42 or more hours of programming in any broadcast week, the licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, as well as to the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

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