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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-84

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Reference: 2019-303

Ottawa, 4 March 2020

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Montréal, Chisasibi, Mistissini, Kuujjuaq, Kuujjuarapik, Waskaganish, Wemindji, and Waswanipi, Quebec

Public record for these application: 2019-0374-0, 2019-0376-6, 2019-0378-2, 2019-0380-8, 2019-0382-3, 2019-0384-9, 2019-0386-5, and 2019-0392-2
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
5 November 2019

CBF-FM Montreal – Licence amendments; CBFG-FM Chisasibi and its transmitters – Revocation of licence

  1. The Commission approves the applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licence for the French-language radio programming undertaking CBF-FM Montréal, Quebec (ICI Radio-Canada Première) in order to add, as rebroadcasting transmitters, CBFG-FM Chisasibi, Quebec (2019-0384-9), an originating station, and its transmitters CBFG-FM-1 Kuujjuaq (2019-0386-5), CBFG-FM-2 Kuujjuarapik (2019-0382-3), CBFH-FM Waskaganish (2019-0378-2), CBFM-FM Mistissini (2019-0376-6), CBFV-FM Waswanipi (2019-0374-0) and CBFW-FM Wemindji (2019-0380-8), Quebec.
  2. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application (2019-0392-2) by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to revoke the broadcasting licence for CBFG-FM Chisasibi, Québec, and its transmitters CBFG-FM-1 Kuujjuaq, CBFG-FM-2 Kuujjuarapik, CBFW-FM Wemindji, CBFH-FM Waskaganish, CBFV-FM Waswanipi, and CBFM-FM Mistissini.
  3. The CBC stated that it will operate the rebroadcasting transmitters in accordance with their current technical parameters.
  4. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding these applications.
  5. CBFG-FM currently broadcasts the programming of the French-language service CBF-FM, including some Cree-language programs. More specifically, the station broadcasts two Cree-language programs from Monday to Friday, for a total of 15 hours per week. The CBC’s plan is to transfer those two programs to its English-language Radio One service, given that Cree communities are found within its service area, specifically, in the region encompassing Chisasibi, Wemindji, Waskaganish, Waswanipi and Mistissini. Given that CBFG-FM will no longer be producing distinct programming, it will become a rebroadcasting transmitter of CBF-FM.
  6. The Commission has no concerns in regard to the proposed changes. Given that English is more widely spoken than French in the community in question, the northern Indigenous population will be better served. 
  7. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that broadcasting certificates will be issued.
  8. The transmitters must be in operation by no later than 4 mars 2022. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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