For Bill C‐10, we asked that the “community element” be defined firstly by not-for-profit ownership and secondly by participation by the community in the production process. The second part was adopted, but “not-for-profit” was not. We were told that an exclusively not-for-profit definition put into question the status of the few remaining cable community channels.
We propose a compromise, which is a definition of the “community element” that includes but is not limited to not-for-profit community media organizations. Whatʹs important is that community-owned TV and radio stations be recognized in the act as a viable, democratic and sustainable model of broadcasting.
Second, the community element is often overlooked in policy‐making. We believe this is because there's a lack of specificity in the Broadcasting Act regarding its role. Therefore, in C‐10, we proposed a slight rewording to paragraph 3(1)(r) of the 1991 act, which describes the role of alternative programming services. The section closely described what the community element does, yet had never been used in CRTC policy-making, to our knowledge. We were told this amendment did not pass for three reasons.
First, we repeated the term “not-for-profit”. We have now taken that out, since it will already have been mentioned in the definition of “community element” if our first amendment is adopted. Second, we used the term “platform”, which we were told isnʹt defined elsewhere in the act. We have taken it out. We mentioned the importance of archiving community-generated content. We were told that it was outside the scope of the Broadcasting Act, so we have taken it out.
We hope you can support this revised description of the role of the “community element”, which will guide the CRTC in its work.
In closing, we rely on your understanding as parliamentarians of the importance of a local accountable media for smaller communities and minorities, whose voices sometimes do not fare well when lobbying at the CRTC. For this reason, we seek these amendments in law. Community media must be recognized as an essential part of the democratic infrastructure of Canada to ensure vibrant, inclusive, democratic and civic coverage throughout our country.
Thanks so much for your time.