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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-64

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References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 29 September 2022 and 27 October 2022

Ottawa, 14 March 2023

Various licensees
Various locations in Ontario

Public record: The application numbers are set out in the decision.

Various commercial radio stations in Ontario – Licence renewals

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act, to issue and renew licences for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as it deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act.
  2. Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the commercial radio programming undertakings listed below from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2030.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications. The terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.

    English-language commercial radio stations operating in Ontario

    Licensee Call sign and locality Application
    Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd. CFJB-FM Barrie 2022-0572-3
    Northwest Broadcasting Inc. CFQK-FM Kaministiquia and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township 2022-0736-5
    Manitoulin Broadcasting Corporation CHAW-FM Little Current 2022-0812-3
    591989 B.C. Ltd. CKRU-FM Peterborough 2022-0659-9
    Five Amigos Broadcasting Inc. CKXS-FM Wallaceburg 2022-0814-9

    Ethnic commercial radio station operating in Ontario

    Licensee Call sign and locality Application
    Radio Humsafar Inc. CIRF Brampton 2022-0479-1

Reminders

Local news

  1. Radio stations are an important daily source of local news and information for communities. Holding a broadcasting licence comes with conditions, regulatory obligations and responsibilities, which include contributing to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring that Canadians have access to local programming that reflects their needs and interests and informs them of important current issues.
  2. Although Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332 does not specify a minimum level of weekly news to be broadcast, it does specify the type of spoken word material that must be included as part of a station’s local programming. In accordance with that regulatory policy, the Commission reminds the licensees that their stations, in their local programming, must incorporate spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the communities served, and that this programming must include local news, weather, sports coverage, and the promotion of local events and activities. In addition, the Commission encourages the licensees to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

Force and effect of broadcasting licences

  1. Pursuant to section 22 of the Broadcasting Act, the broadcasting licences renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect if the broadcasting certificates issued by the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) lapse.

Employment equity

  1. Because 591989 B.C. Ltd. is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Employment and Social Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.

Practical guide for radio licence renewals

  1. To learn more about the Commission’s review of compliance with requirements relating to radio licences, and about the radio renewal process, please consult the Commission’s Practical guide to radio licence renewals.

Secretary General

Related documents

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-64

Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragement for the commercial radio programming undertakings for which the broadcasting licences have been renewed in this decision

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2030.

Conditions of licence applicable to all stations

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Revised conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-334, 7 December 2022, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.

Additional condition of licence applicable to CKRU-FM Peterborough, Ontario

  1. The licensee shall, as an exception to the percentage of Canadian musical selections set out in subsections 2.2(8) and 2.2(9) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), in any broadcast week where at least 90% of the musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) that it broadcasts are selections released before 1 January 1981:
    • devote, in that broadcast week, a minimum of 30% of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    • devote, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., in the period from Monday to Friday of the same broadcast week, a minimum of 30% of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

    The licensee will also be responsible for specifying, on the music lists it provides to the Commission, the year of release for all musical selections it broadcasts.

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

Additional condition of licence applicable to CHAW-FM Little Current, Ontario

  1. The licensee shall, as an exception to the percentage of Canadian musical selections set out in subsections 2.2(8) and 2.2(9) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), in any broadcast week:
    • devote, in that broadcast week, a minimum of 40% of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    • devote, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., in the period from Monday to Friday of the same broadcast week, a minimum of 40% of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

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

Additional conditions of licence applicable to CIRF Brampton, Ontario

  1. In each broadcast week, the licensee shall provide programming directed at a minimum of 14 distinct ethnic groups in at least 11 different languages.


    For the purposes of this condition, the term “broadcast week” shall have the same meaning as that set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

  2. To fulfill its outstanding commitments to Canadian content development (CCD) set out in Appendix 2 to Licensing of new radio stations to serve Brampton, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-471, 21 October 2015, in addition to the required basic annual contribution to CCD set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, as amended from time to time, the licensee shall contribute $75,000 to the promotion and development of Canadian content, to be allotted as follows:
    • $25,000 in the 2023-2024 broadcast year by 31 August 2024;
    • $25,000 in the 2024-2025 broadcast year by 31 August 2025;
    • $25,000 in the 2025-2026 broadcast year by 31 August 2026.

    The licensee shall allocate the following amounts of its additional annual CCD contribution to FACTOR:

    • $5,000 in the 2023-2024 broadcast year by 31 August 2024;
    • $5,000 in the 2024-2025 broadcast year by 31 August 2025;
    • $5,000 in the 2025-2026 broadcast year by 31 August 2026.

    The remaining amounts of this additional CCD contribution shall be allocated to parties and initiatives that fulfill the criteria for eligible initiatives set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022. Examples of eligible initiatives and ineligible initiatives are provided on the Commission’s Canadian Content Development Contributions and Eligible Initiatives webpage.

    The licensee shall file all proof of payment and eligibility regarding these CCD contributions by 30 November of each year, and shall do so in a form deemed acceptable by the Commission.

Expectations applicable to all stations

Cultural diversity

The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices.

Canadian emerging artists

Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022 (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332), the Commission expects the licensee to devote, in each broadcast week, at least 5% of the station’s musical selections to selections from Canadian emerging artists broadcast in their entirety. The licensee should report annually on how it has met this expectation, including the percentage of selections from Canadian emerging artists out of the total number of musical selections that were aired, and the number of distinct artists whose music has been aired. The licensee should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.

For the purposes of the above paragraph, the definition of “Canadian emerging artist” is the same as that set out in paragraph 346 of Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332.

Indigenous musical selections

Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022 (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332), the Commission expects the licensee to include Indigenous musical selections on the station’s playlist. The licensee should report annually on the amount of Indigenous content aired on the station throughout the broadcast year (i.e., from 1 September to 31 August), including the percentage of Indigenous musical selections out of the total number of musical selections that were aired, and the number of distinct artists whose music has been aired. The licensee should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.

For the purposes of the above paragraph, the licensee may use the provisional definition of “Indigenous-Canadian musical selection” set out in paragraph 441 of Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332 to determine whether a musical selection can be considered an Indigenous musical selection.

Encouragement applicable to CFJB-FM Barrie, Ontario; CFQK-FM Kaministiquia, Ontario, and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township; CHAW-FM Little Current, Ontario; CIRF Brampton, Ontario; and CKXS-FM Wallaceburg, Ontario

In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

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