Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to Sarah Spring (Documentary Organization of Canada)
Ottawa, 18 November 2024
BY EMAIL
Sarah Spring
Executive Director
Documentary Organization of Canada
Sarah@docorg.ca
Subject: CRTC’s Updated Regulatory Plan to Modernize the Broadcasting Framework and Upcoming Schedule for Public Consultations
Dear Ms. Spring,
Thank you for your letter dated 5 November regarding our regulatory plan to modernize the broadcasting framework. In your letter, you expressed concerns regarding the timing of our public proceeding to review the definition of what constitutes Canadian content. You also inquired about our plan to consult on appropriate tools to support Canadian programming and stressed how important it is to give participants clarity on timelines.
We appreciate you sharing your concerns and see the participation of DOC and other organizations in our proceedings as important to their success. At the same time, we are trying to strike a balance in providing certainty the industry on the rules going forward as quickly as possible.
On November 15, 2024, the Commission released its updated Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework, a plan that was alluded to by the Chairperson at her speech at the IIC conference held in Ottawa on 21 October 2024. The plan sets out the consultations and public hearings that will take place between this Fall and Spring 2025. In setting out its plan, the Commission had to strike a balance between a need to act promptly to modernize our broadcasting framework and to build strong public records with a variety of voices from participants and stakeholders. As you will have noted, at the same time the Commission launched two public consultations, including one on the definition of Canadian content, which will lead to a public hearing starting on March 31st, 2025.
We understand the resource constraints faced by some parties, including DOC. We trust that by proceeding in phases and publishing our roadmap, parties can adjust their plans and participate throughout the whole modernization process. The public proceedings two of which launched on 15 November will enable the Commission to enhance the regulatory framework in a timely fashion. To help guide the conversations, the Commission is trying to present as many preliminary views as possible, in the expectation that this will help groups focus their comments.
Many of these future processes will allow for interventions to be filed, and will include in-person public hearings and replies following those public hearings. This will help ensure that parties have opportunities to have their voices heard. For updates on our regulatory framework plan, please visit our website: Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework | CRTC.
If you have any questions, you can contact Michael Craig, Director, Television, at michael.craig@crtc.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Scott Shortliffe
Executive Director, Broadcasting
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