ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Procedural Letter Addressed to Véro Leduc (Centre québécois pour la déficience auditive (CQDA))
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Ottawa, 12 August 2016
BY EMAIL
Ms. Véro Leduc
Director General
Centre québécois pour la déficience auditive (CQDA)
Email: direction@cqda.org
Dear Madam Leduc:
Re: Request to extend the intervention period deadline (Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-225)
The Commission is in receipt of a second request dated 9 August 2016 from the Centre québécois pour la déficience auditive (CQDA) to extend the intervention deadline in the proceeding on the renewal of television licences held by large English-language and French-language ownership groups, as outlined in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-225 (BNC 2016-225). This request follows a denial of its first request set out in a letter dated 9 August 2016.
In its second request, the CQDA asked for reconsideration of the denial to extend the intervention period deadline for BNC 2016-225 and requested the ability to submit their intervention on 22 August at the latest. The Commission notes that CQDA presented new arguments to support its request for an extension:
- The CQDA argued that it is not able to submit its memorandum on time, as it was only made aware of this proceeding at the end of June, upon receipt of an email from Nanao Kachi (Director, Social and Consumer Policy).
- It further stated that it was unfortunate that Commission staff, in its response, did not take into account the fact that the denial of an extension will have an impact on its clientele, which is comprised of hearing impaired people. The CQDA provided that members of its committee on closed captioning have hearing deficiencies and can only express themselves in sign language. As such, they require time to translate their intervention into reading text.
With respect to the CQDA’s first argument, the Commission considers that it is the responsibility of all interested parties to consult the Commission’s website, as well as the three-year plan, on a regular basis to be informed of proceedings that could be relevant to them.
Secondly, the Commission notes that it has already extended the deadline in Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-225-1 from 2 August to 15 August and has denied other extension requests since then. Previously, in order to provide interested parties with sufficient time to respond appropriately to BNC 2016-225, the Commission opted for a longer intervention period than the usual 30 days provided for in its Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission notes that BNC 2016-225’s initial intervention period was of 45 calendar days and that Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-225-1 extended the intervention period to 56 calendar days.
For the above reasons, the Commission denies CQDA’s second request for extension of the intervention period deadline for BNC 2016-225. The Commission considers that the established timelines are sufficient and reasonable.
The Commission encourages CQDA to participate in the proceeding and to request to appear at the public hearing in order to discuss the details of its positions, should it not be able to submit a fulsome memorandum in time.
Yours sincerely,
Danielle May-Cuconato
Secretary General
c.c.: susan.wheeler@rci.rogers.com, sylvie.courtemanche@corusent.com, Kevin.goldstein@bellmedia.ca, Tabet.Peggy@Quebecor.com serge.bellerose55@gmail.com and dean.shaikh@sjrb.ca
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