The cable companies made a business case to the CRTC to close their stations, but the communities were never consulted, and that's the problem. True community media, as it is internationally recognized, is owned and operated by non-profit organizations, rooted in their communities and present for the long term. Our goal is to fill this gap. The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations, or CACTUS, currently has 25 non-profit community television stations outside of Quebec. The Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec has 41 in Quebec, and these television stations are supported by the Quebec ministère de la Culture et des Communications.
The CRTC asked us whether community television was still necessary in an age when you can watch videos on a phone and download them from YouTube. This thinking led the CRTC to divert the vast majority of Canada's community television budget, over $150 million, to support private news networks. This happened in 2016.
The value of community programming is now being rediscovered through programs like the Local Journalism Initiative, as we realize that essential democratic and civic coverage is not happening on social media, as we become increasingly concerned about fake news, and as we grapple with the need to make our society more inclusive.
Community media meet broadcasting licence requirements and are accountable to their boards. They are safe spaces where minorities who fear being attacked on social media can go for production support and visibility. They are the antidote to fractured communities and the silos created by social media. They are a common platform for the whole community.