Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-69

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

Ottawa, 15 March 2023

Rogers Media Inc.
Various locations in British Columbia and Ontario

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

Various commercial radio stations in British Columbia and Ontario – Licence renewals

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.
Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the English-language 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 licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-334, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licences for the undertakings.

Commercial radio stations operating in British Columbia

Call sign and locality	Application
CFSR-FM Hope	2022-0751-3
CKQC-FM Abbotsford	2022-0765-4

The Commission reminds the licensee that in regard to CKOT-FM, it must pay any outstanding tangible benefits stemming from the ownership transaction that was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2017-251, within the timeline set out in the decision.

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.
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 licensee that its 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 licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

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.

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

Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332, the Commission expects the licensee to devote, in each broadcast week, at least 5% of each 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.

Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332, the Commission expects the licensee to include Indigenous musical selections on each station’s playlist. The licensee should report annually on the amount of Indigenous content aired on each 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.

Because this licensee 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.

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