Highlights of the CRTC Review on Official Languages
Key initiatives for the development of official language minority communities (OLMCs)
Television licence renewals for large English- and French-language ownership groups
Maintenance of regulatory obligations to reflect OLMCs for licensees who already have this obligation and extension of this obligation to licensees who did not have it yet.
25% credit for Canadian programming expenditures when the services of OLMC producers are used by licensees.
Active participation by OLMC representatives in the Commission’s public proceeding.
Enables broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) to promote community programming in both official languages. This new approach is primarily based on the success of the experiment by community channel MAtv to the benefit of the English-language OLMC in Montreal.
The Commission will require the creation of advisory committees to represent the community at the next BDU renewals.
Key initiatives for the promotion of English and French in Canadian society
At least one member of a CIPF's project selection committee is responsible for ensuring that OLMCs' reflection and issues are taken into account by CIPF operators. Furthermore, CIPF operators will be required to submit detailed reports regarding applications and productions funded by OLMC producers. CIPFs contribute approximately $60 million per year to Canadian programming development.
In 2011, the Commission ordered Northwestel to develop and file a comprehensive plan to modernize its network infrastructure so that clients in the North could receive services comparable to those available in the rest of Canada.
Several communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon benefitted from improved telecommunications services, such as high-speed Internet and advanced wireless services (4G).
OLMCs need broadband Internet access services to address the shortage of French-language content in their community, including books, mobile applications for youth and schools, and television and radio content.
In 2016, the Commission declared that all Canadians must have access to voice services and broadband Internet access services, on both fixed and mobile wireless networks.
French-language OLMCs need broadband Internet access services to address the shortage of French-language content in their community, including books, mobile applications for youth and schools, and television and radio content.
Key achievement with a regional impact
The Commission issued a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language community FM radio station in Edmonton, Alberta. The station will target the French-language OLMC in Edmonton.
Contributions to the 150th anniversary of Confederation
The CRTC recognized the contribution of 24 exceptional men and women to the Canadian communications system by giving their names to the Commission’s meeting rooms. Biographical plaques for these eminent figures are currently on display in 12 meeting rooms, as well as the Agora.