ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Procedural Letter Addressed to Carmel Smyth (Canadian Media Guild)
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Ottawa, 11 February 2016
BY EMAIL
Ms. Carmel Smyth
National President
Canadian Media Guild
310 Front Street West, Suite 810
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3B5
carmel@cmg.ca
RE: Procedural request regarding an application by Shaw Communications Inc., on behalf of Shaw Media Inc. and its licensed subsidiaries, for authority to effect a multi-step intra-corporate reorganization.
Dear Ms. Smyth:
This letter is in response to the procedural request filed by Canadian Media Guild (CMG) dated 4 February 2016, requesting that the Commission modify the process set out for the above-noted application by holding an appearing public hearing rather than a written public consultation to review the application.
In its letter, CMG expresses its concerns over media concentration in Canada, availability of space on television for original Canadian content and jobs in the country. As such, the CMG argues that the Commission apply the most rigorous criteria in reviewing the proposed transaction and call a public hearing as part of its review.
Procedural request to hold an appearing public hearing
In Broadcasting Information Bulletin CRTC 2008-8-2 (the Bulletin), the Commission sets out the options for reviewing share transactions. Consistent with the Bulletin, the Commission issued a notice of consultation (notice of application received) to review the above-noted application. The Commission further reminds CMG that the Bulletin provides for a review of share transfer applications using a notice of consultation (notice of hearing) where “the application has been dealt with via notice of consultation (notice of applications received) and generates interventions that raise substantive concerns as determined by the Commission and which warrant further discussion at a public hearing”.
As such, consistent with the Bulletin, the Commission will make its determination on the need for further discussion at a public hearing based on the interventions received. The Commission therefore denies the request by CMG for an appearing public hearing.
Please note that a copy of your letter and this response will be added to the public record.
Yours sincerely,
Danielle May-Cuconato
Secretary General
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