Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-216

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References: 2026-115 and 2025-265

Gatineau, 24 August 2026

Public record: 1011-NOC2026-0115

Various radio services – Renewal of licences for indefinite terms

Summary

In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2025-265, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) determined that, going forward, most radio licences would no longer be granted for a definite term.

In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2026-115, the Commission launched a proceeding to invite comments on its proposal to implement the policy on indefinite terms for radio licences. The Commission received a wide range of views in response, including from broadcasters, industry associations, and organizations that represent the interests of official language minority communities and the public interest. 

Based on the record of that proceeding, the Commission renews the licences for radio services listed in the appendix to this decision for indefinite terms, effective upon the expiry of the current licences, without further process.

Background

1. Following amendments to the Broadcasting Act (the Act), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) may now issue licences for indefinite terms for radio services. In Modernization of radio processes^{Footnote 1} (the Policy), the Commission determined that moving forward, almost all licences for radio services would be granted for an indefinite term.^{Footnote 2}
2. To implement this policy for radio services that already hold licences, the Commission must renew those existing licences, but for indefinite terms. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2026-115 (the Notice), the Commission called for comments on its proposal to renew, for indefinite terms, the licences for radio services listed in the appendix to the Notice.

Interventions

3. The Commission received several interventions and replies that expressed support for the implementation of its policy on indefinite term licences. These submissions came mainly from broadcasters and industry associations.
4. The Commission also received interventions in opposition from the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC), the Consumers Council of Canada (the Council), and two individuals. The interventions are addressed below.
5. Certain interveners expressed concerns relating to issues that were raised and addressed during the proceeding leading to the issuance of the Policy. These concerns related to compliance, regulatory and reporting requirements, and the appropriateness of indefinite licence terms. Given that the scope of this proceeding was limited to implementing the Commission’s policy on indefinite licence terms for radio services, as set out in the Notice, the Commission considers that those concerns are outside the scope of this proceeding.

Commission’s decisions

6. After examining the record for this proceeding in light of applicable regulations and policies, the Commission considers that it must address the following:
   • implementation of indefinite licence terms for radio services;
   • regulatory flexibility under the indefinite licence terms; and
   • the effective start date for the indefinite licence terms.

Implementation of indefinite licence terms for radio services

Positions of parties

7. Broadcasters and industry associations considered indefinite licence terms to be a positive measure that would help reduce administrative burden on radio broadcasters. Some stated that the public record demonstrates broad support for the proposal and that indefinite licence terms would contribute to the modernization of the radio licensing framework.
8. Three organizations that represent the interests of official language minority communities (OLMCs) noted that indefinite renewals, as well as reductions in administrative burden more broadly, will help advance the vitality of OLMCs by allowing radio services that serve OLMCs to focus their resources on developing local content in the official language of the minority community.
9. While the FRPC supported the concept of indefinite licence terms in principle, it submitted that there is insufficient evidence to support the Commission’s proposal. It further submitted that granting indefinite licence terms at this time would be premature given the Government of Canada’s announced intention to issue new policy directions related to the implementation of the Online Streaming Act.
10. The FRPC also noted concerns relating to licensee compliance and to the possibility that indefinite licence terms would reduce accountability of radio services and opportunities for public participation. In its view, granting such terms should only happen after Canadians receive clear information about services’ programming performance and have opportunities to comment. Finally, in its reply, the FRPC expressed concerns relating to the procedure used for this process.
11. The Council opposed the implementation of indefinite licence terms, arguing that it would weaken accountability, transparency, public participation, and regulatory oversight despite reducing administrative burden.
12. While parties generally welcomed the Commission’s increasing focus on reducing regulatory burden, and encouraged the Commission to pursue broader modernization initiatives, certain interveners stated that eliminating the licence renewal process would only have a marginal impact on administrative burden. Some noted that implementation of the Commission’s proposal could lead to increased compliance monitoring, which would in turn increase administrative burden.

Commission’s decisions

13. In the Policy, the Commission made the decision, based on the record of that proceeding, that indefinite licence terms would be granted to almost all radio services.^{Footnote 3} In reaching that decision, the Commission noted that amendments to the Act clearly separate regulatory requirements and conditions of service from the licence itself, thereby reducing the need to use fixed licence terms as a compliance and oversight mechanism. The Commission also considered the extent to which indefinite renewals would reduce administrative burden and concluded that they would be beneficial in that regard.
14. The Commission notes that the FRPC’s submissions regarding procedural matters either pertain to issues that were not raised during the intervention period and, as a result, were not subject to comment by other parties during the reply phase, or relate to matters that are outside the scope of this proceeding. Consequently, the Commission has not addressed these procedural issues in this decision.
15. In light of the above, the Commission finds that submissions made by the FRPC or any other intervener that would invite the Commission to modify its policy lie outside the scope of the present proceeding and that this is not the appropriate forum to revisit the determinations set out in the Policy.

Regulatory flexibility under indefinite licence terms

Positions of parties

16. An individual intervener who generally supported the Commission’s proposal for indefinite licence terms submitted that the national pay audio service operated by Stingray Group Inc. (Stingray) should be treated differently and continue to be subject to a fixed-term licence. The intervener noted that, unlike traditional radio services, pay audio services are distributed through broadcasting distribution undertakings and rely on carriage agreements rather than listener choice, which makes licence renewals a key accountability mechanism.
17. This intervener requested that the Commission defer its consideration of the licence renewal for Stingray’s service until it has issued its determination in the audio policy proceeding initiated by Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2025-52. In the view of this intervener, a deferral would allow the Commission to address outstanding policy issues relating to pay audio services within the broader context of the audio policy review. As an alternative, this intervener proposed that the Commission maintain a fixed renewal term subject to periodic review, or, if an indefinite term is granted, state expressly in its decision that the conversion is without prejudice to the review of the service’s conditions of service through the outcome of a Commission proceeding.
18. Sirius XM Canada Inc. submitted that the adoption of indefinite licence terms should not have the unintended consequence of preserving outdated conditions of service. It requested that the Commission confirm that broadcasters will continue to have a meaningful opportunity to apply for amendments to conditions of service and other regulatory obligations through separate proceedings.

Commission’s decisions

19. As noted above, conditions of service are no longer tied to a licence or its term. As such, the renewal of licences for indefinite terms would not interfere with the Commission’s ability to implement future policy determinations arising from the ongoing audio policy review, or any other future proceedings.
20. Pursuant to paragraph 9(1)(e) of the Act, the renewals only apply in respect of the licences and their terms. They have no impact on the licensees’ conditions of service imposed pursuant to subsections 9.1(1) or 11.1(2) of the Act. Therefore, indefinite licence terms do not interfere with the Commission’s ability to consider applications for amendments to conditions of service or to make determinations affecting the obligations of radio licensees in future proceedings.

Effective start date for indefinite licence terms

Positions of parties

21. Leclerc Communication inc. (Leclerc) supported the Commission’s proposal and added that indefinite licence renewals should take effect automatically upon the licences’ current expiry dates without the need for a full renewal application process, except in cases where specific issues warrant a targeted review by the Commission. It requested that, if the Commission does not retain this approach, the licences for its stations CFEL-FM Québec, Quebec, expiring in 2027, and CJEC-FM Québec and CJPX-FM Montréal, Quebec, both expiring in 2030, not be granted indefinite licence terms before those licences expire.

Commission’s decisions

22. The Commission considers that Leclerc’s proposal for the most part aligns with that set out in the Notice.
23. The radio licences that the Commission has proposed to renew for indefinite terms expire during the period from the end of the 2025-2026 broadcast year (i.e., 31 August 2026) to the end of the 2030-2031 broadcast year (i.e., 31 August 2031). As the renewal of a station’s licence takes effect only at the end of its current licence term, the indefinite term licences will take effect upon the expiry of the current licences.
24. As a result, licensees will seamlessly transition from their current licence terms to their updated, indefinite licence terms without further process.

Changes to the list of services to be renewed

25. Since issuing the Notice, the Commission has received and processed applications to add or delete rebroadcasting transmitters and for which it has already issued licence amendment decisions. The table set out in the appendix to this decision reflects the instances where such approvals have already been granted.
26. In addition, the Commission has recently processed several ownership applications and has issued decisions^{Footnote 4} granting the affected stations indefinite licence terms. The Commission has also received applications to revoke the licences for various radio services and has issued decisions for the affected services.^{Footnote 5} Consequently, those services, which were included in the appendix to the Notice, do not appear in the list of services set out in the appendix to this decision.
27. Further, in the Notice, the Commission included the Indigenous radio station CKTP-FM Fredericton, New Brunswick, licensed to Maliseet Nation Radio Inc., in the list of services to be renewed for an indefinite term. Due to uncertainties raised in communications between Commission staff and the station regarding the station’s ongoing ownership and plans for operations beyond its current licence expiry date of 31 August 2027, the Commission has not included this station in the list set out in the appendix to this decision. Should the licensee resolve these issues, it may apply to the Commission for a renewal of its licence prior to that expiry.

Commercial religious specialty radio services

28. As part of the Commission’s efforts to streamline, radio services previously licensed either as “religious specialty” or as “commercial religious” will now be referred to collectively as “commercial religious specialty” services. This harmonization of terminology does not constitute a change in licence category, and none of the conditions of service to which these services are subject will change as a result.

Compliance process

29. Ensuring that the licensees of radio services comply with their regulatory obligations remains a core part of the Commission’s mandate. The Commission has the ability to ensure regulatory compliance through regular monitoring and, if necessary, through other compliance measures such as mandatory orders and administrative monetary penalties. Because regulatory obligations are no longer tied to licences, compliance action can occur at any time, rather than only during licence renewal.
30. One individual intervener suggested that Corus Radio Inc. (Corus) is in non-compliance for its radio services CHQR Calgary and CHED Edmonton, Alberta. Corus replied to this intervention.
31. Consistent with the Notice, this proceeding does not address any issues relating to licensees’ compliance with their regulatory obligations. The Commission considers that interventions filed as part of this licence renewal proceeding that raised concerns about the compliance of specific radio services are out of scope of this proceeding and, in accordance with the Notice, will instead be considered as part of upcoming compliance processes. Interested persons will have an opportunity to comment at the appropriate time.

Regulatory burden

32. The implementation of indefinite licence terms for radio services reduces regulatory and administrative burden. It eliminates the need for full or administrative licence renewals, thereby reducing the associated time, effort, and costs for radio services. It also supports the Commission’s ongoing efforts to simplify processes and ensure a more efficient regulatory framework for stakeholders.

Conclusion

33. In light of all of the above, the Commission renews, for indefinite terms, the broadcasting licences for the radio services (and, where applicable, their transmitters) set out in the appendix to this decision, starting at the beginning of the broadcast year (i.e., 1 September) following the expiry date for each licence. Conditions of service and other regulatory obligations applicable to these services are not affected by these renewals.^{Footnote 6}
34. This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Secretary General

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-216

Radio programming undertakings for which the Commission renews the licences for indefinite terms beginning 1 September of the broadcast year following the current licence expiry date

Related documents

• CJLC-FM La Crête – New transmitter in Weberville, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-207, 13 August 2026
• CJTK-FM Sudbury – New transmitter in Kirkland Lake, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-205, 10 August 2026
• CFNJ-FM Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon – Revocation of licence, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-202, 7 August 2026
• CIWV-FM Vancouver – New transmitter in Burnaby/Port Moody, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-183, 24 July 2026
• CJAG-FM Jasper – Revocation of licence, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-174, 17 July 2026
• Various radio stations in Quebec – Change in ownership and effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-172, 14 July 2026
• CJSQ-FM Québec – Change in ownership and effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-164, 8 July 2026
• CHUP-FM Calgary – Change in ownership and effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-143, 18 June 2026
• CKBL-FM Saskatoon – Change in ownership and effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-142, 18 June 2026
• Call for comments – Renewing radio licences for indefinite terms, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2026-115, 5 June 2026
• Modernization of radio processes, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2025-265, 10 October 2025
• French-language community FM radio station in Iqaluit, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-121, 23 May 2025
• CFCO Chatham – Conversion to the FM band, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-88, 14 April 2025
• The Path Forward – Supporting Canadian and Indigenous audio content, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-52, 20 February 2025
• English-language community FM radio station in Newmarket, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-241, 7 August 2023

Date modified:

2026-08-24