Search

Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to Nathalie Blais (Canadian Union of Public Employees)

Ottawa, 16 June 2023

BY EMAIL

Nathalie Blais
Research Advisor
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Montreal, Quebec
nblais@scfp.ca

Re: Part 1 application requesting the Commission to direct Quebecor Media Inc. and TVA Group Inc. to continue to meet the local programming and local reflection requirements imposed on the station CFCM-DT Québec, including the requirement to broadcast two newscasts on weekends

On 6 June 2023, the Commission received a Part 1 application from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) seeking an order prohibiting Quebecor Media Inc. and TVA Group Inc. (TVA) from withdrawing weekend newscasts on its Québec station (CFCM-DT) by 19 June at the latest and requiring TVA to continue to meet the local and locally reflective programming requirements imposed on this station.

In order for the Commission to render a decision in this regard by 19 June at the latest, the CUPE asked that the Commission act in a preventive manner and according to shortened consultation deadlines:

In general, Commission staff notes that the Commission does not issue orders to incumbents as a precautionary measure, as requested by CUPE. The Commission may, however, impose corrective measures considering a proven situation of non-compliance, following a public process in good and due form.

If TVA withdraws the newscasts and the announced non-compliance is then proven, the Commission could take the necessary measures in a timely manner with all the evidence on the record. Moreover, staff would like to point out that it expressed its concerns to TVA regarding its announcement to cease the broadcast of its weekend newscasts in Québec in a letter dated 16 June 2023 (this letter will be added to the public record of the TVA application). In light of the above, staff is of the view that it would be more appropriate to publish CUPE's application in accordance with the deadlines usually set for Part 1 applications (i.e., 30 days of intervention and 10 days of reply), out of concern for procedural fairness and transparency for all parties. The usual consultation deadlines will allow interested parties (including TVA and CUPE) to have sufficient time to comment on the merits of TVA's and CUPE’s applications, to obtain a complete and exhaustive public record, and to enable the Commission to make an informed decision on both applications.

This application will therefore be published according to the following consultation deadlines: 30 days of intervention followed by 10 days of reply.

A copy of this letter will be placed on the public record of the proceeding.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Scott Shortliffe
Executive Director,
Broadcasting

cc: Peggy Tabet, peggy.tabet@quebecor.com

Date modified: