Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-70

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References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 29 September 2022, 3 October 2022 and 27 October 2022

Ottawa, 15 March 2023

Pattison Media Ltd.
Various locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan

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

Various commercial radio stations in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan – 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 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 terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Commercial radio stations operating in British Columbia

Commercial radio stations operating in Alberta

Commercial radio stations operating in Saskatchewan

Reminders

Tangible benefits

3. The Commission reminds the licensee that in regard to CHWK-FM and CJVR-FM, it must pay any remaining tangible benefits stemming the ownership transaction that was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2019-289, and in regard to CKMQ-FM, the ownership transaction that was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2020-410, within the timelines set out in the decisions.

Local news

4. 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.
5. 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.

Force and effect of broadcasting licences

6. 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

7. 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.

Practical guide for radio licence renewals

8. 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

• Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022
• Various commercial radio programming undertakings – Administrative renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-297, 30 August 2021
• Merritt Broadcasting Ltd. – Change in ownership and effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-410, 22 December 2020
• Various radio programming undertakings – Administrative renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-381, 27 November 2020
• CIXM-FM Whitecourt, CHWK-FM Chilliwack, CJVR-FM Melfort and its transmitters CJVR-FM-1 Dafoe, CJVR-FM-2 Waskesiu Lake and CJVR-FM-3 Carrot River, and CKJH Melfort – Corporate reorganization, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-289, 15 August 2019

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-70

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 with the exception of CJNS-FM Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and CKMQ-FM Merritt, British Columbia

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.

Conditions of licence applicable to CJNS-FM Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and CKMQ-FM Merritt, British Columbia

2. 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, with the exception of condition 8, which relates to soliciting and accepting local advertising, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.

Additional condition of licence applicable to CHWK-FM Chilliwack and CKPK-FM Vancouver, British Columbia, and CIKT-FM Grande Prairie, Alberta

3. 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 condition of licence applicable to CIUP-FM Edmonton, Alberta

4. The licensee shall broadcast a two-hour Specialty Smooth Jazz program in each broadcast week.

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

Additional conditions of licence applicable to CKMQ-FM Merritt, British Columbia

5. Subject to condition of licence 5 set out in Revised conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-334, 7 December 2022, the licensee shall refrain from soliciting or accepting local advertising for broadcast during any broadcast week when less than one-third of the programming aired is local. The definition of “local programming” shall be as set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022.
6. The licensee shall operate the station under a musical format that is distinct at all times from what is provided by the rebroadcasting transmitters CIFM-FM-3 Merritt and CKBZ-FM-3 Merritt. In addition, the licensee shall ensure that the majority of programming from content category 1 (Spoken Word) as defined in Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-333, 7 December 2022, broadcast on the station is distinct from what is provided by CIFM-FM-3 and CKBZ-FM-3.

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 CHQX-FM Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and its transmitters CHQX-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM-2 Laronge and CHQX-FM-3 Big River

The Commission encourages the licensee to continue to devote a minimum of 40% of all content category 2 (Popular Music) musical selections broadcast to Canadian musical selections, during each broadcast week, and between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. The Commission notes that this level exceeds the 35% requirement for Canadian content category 2 musical selections set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

Date modified:

2023-03-15