Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by several people from Edmonton, Alberta who say that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the CRTC, on July 22, 1997 refused to license four religious television broadcasters, including one Roman Catholic service and three multidenominational services, but on the same day the CRTC licensed the pornographic Playboy channel for television service. They also say that the CRTC from its founding has systematically refused to license Christian broadcasters, but has consistently licensed sexually explicit and violent programming.
Canadians have a constitutional right to freedom of religion, conscience and expression. Therefore these petitioners pray that parliament will review the mandate of the CRTC and direct the CRTC to administer a new policy which will encourage the licensing of religious broadcasters.
I am pleased to present this petition in accordance with Standing Order 36.