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Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 1 May 2024

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Distribution list

Subject: Diversity and Inclusion in Broadcasting

On April 27, 2023, the Online Streaming Act ) Footnote1 received Royal Assent, marking the first significant amendment to the Broadcasting Act since 1991. Its primary goal is to promote fairness and provide support to Canadian creators and storytellers by increasing investments in Canadian culture and industry.

The amended Broadcasting Act brings online undertakings within its scope. It also amends broadcasting and regulatory policies to ensure that the needs and interests of all Canadians are met through the programming offerings and employment opportunities in the broadcasting system. This includes the representation of Canadians from Black or other racialized communities and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages. Further, broadcasters must provide opportunities to Indigenous persons and programming that reflects Indigenous cultures and languages.) Footnote2 For more information on the Online Streaming Act and amendments related to diversity, please refer to the following sections at this link:

Recognizing the vital role of diversity and inclusion in representing Canada's diverse communities through the programming and content offered by the broadcasting industry, the CRTC acknowledges the industry's efforts to implement various initiatives that aim to increase representation and provide all Canadians with access to content that reflects their diverse experiences and perspectives. The Online Streaming Act is an opportunity to modernize the CRTC regulatory framework on diversity and inclusion.

In light of this, we would like to learn more about your organization's current diversity and inclusion initiatives.) Footnote3 Enclosed within this letter is Appendix 1, containing a set of questions about diversity and inclusion. We kindly request your response to these questions by 3 June 2024.

If you require any additional information or have further questions, please feel free to contact  diversite-diversity@crtc.gc.ca .

Yours sincerely,

Nanao Kachi (he, him)
Director, Social and Consumer Policy
CRTC

Procedural information

When submitting your response electronically via the secured service “My CRTC Account” (Partner Log In or GCKey), please use reference number #CRT 1013-2 to ensure the efficient processing of your submission. We also ask that you repeat each question in your reply.

This letter and all subsequent correspondences will be made available on the CRTC website and may be included in the public record of future CRTC public proceedings.

Should certain information be deemed confidential under Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin 2010-961, an abridged version of the response must be provided, along with a detailed explanation of why the information's disclosure is not in the public's interest. It is important to note that the CRTC may disclose or request the disclosure of information deemed confidential, provided that its release is in the public interest. This means that if the potential harm caused by the disclosure is outweighed by the public's interest, the CRTC may disclose confidential information in accordance with its standard practices

As set out in paragraph 102 of Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-959 the Commission's proceedings are intended to allow the public to provide input to help the Commission make better, informed decisions. Therefore, the general rule is that all information submitted to the Commission is placed on the public record and is available for review by all parties and the public. In keeping with this principle, CRTC staff expect parties to disclose information to the fullest extent possible. Additionally, the Accessible Canada Act promotes the removal of barriers for people with disabilities, ensuring full and equitable access. As such, Commission staff encourage parties to disclose information to the fullest extent possible.

Moreover, all documents submitted in response to this request are to be in a file format that can be accessed by those who are blind or partially sighted. This includes formats that allow for text to be enlarged or modified, or that can be read by a screen reader, such as MS Word. For guidance on creating accessible documents, please refer to the resource "Creating Accessible Documents."

Please use the following naming convention when submitting your document(s):

Appendix 1: Questions – Diversity and Inclusion

  1. How does your organization include diverse voices and perspectives in the decision-making process for content curation and creation? Are diverse communities or individuals involved in this process to varying degrees? Additionally, please provide details on the measures implemented to ensure that the programming presented on air accurately reflects the diverse realities of Canada and how the aforementioned diverse voices and perspectives influence programming decisions.
  2. How does your organization measure the effectiveness of its diversity policies and initiatives?  What metrics are used? What is your level of transparency around measurement and reporting?
  3. How does your organization collaborate with other stakeholders, such as community organizations or industry associations, to promote diversity and inclusion in the broadcasting industry?
  4. How does your organization ensure that its diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives are integrated into its overall business strategies and operations? Are there differences in the level of commitment to diversity and inclusion across different departments or functions within the organization?
  5. How does the organization ensure that its content reflects the diversity of Canadian society, including the representation of Canadians from Black or other racialized communities, Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, individuals from various socio-economic statuses, individuals with different abilities and disabilities, and Canadians who self-identify as 2SLGBTQI+) Footnote4 ? Are there differences in the types of content produced depending on the geographic reach of the content?
  6. How does the organization address cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and misrepresentation in their content on their platforms? What are the strategies employed to tackle these concerns?
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