Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-218

PDF version

Ottawa, 9 July 2021

Public record: 1011-NOC2021-0218

Notice of hearing

9 September 2021
Gatineau, Quebec

Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 9 August 2021

[Submit an intervention/comment/answer or view related documents]

The Commission will hold a hearing on 9 September 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at the Commission Headquarters, 1 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec. The Commission intends to consider the following applications, subject to interventions, without the appearance of the parties:

Applicant/Licensee and Locality

  1. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
    Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Application 2021-0234-1
  2. Maritime Broadcasting System Limited
    Campbellton, New Brunswick
    Application 2021-0192-1
  3. Interlake Mennonite Fellowship Church
    Okno, Manitoba
    Application 2021-0081-6
  4. Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership
    Various locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
    Applications 2021-0233-3 and 2021-0289-6

1. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
Application 2021-0234-1

Application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language FM radio station in Grand Falls-Windsor with rebroadcasting transmitters in Baie Verte, Hampden, Millertown and Roddickton to replace its English-language AM radio station CBT Grand Falls-Windsor.

The station would operate at 93.3 MHz (channel 227C1) with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height above average terrain of 193.6 metres).

The applicant states that it would operate its rebroadcasting transmitters under the same technical parameters as those currently in effect under the licence for CBT.

The applicant also states that the station would continue to broadcast programming received from CBC’s national Radio One network, more particularly from CBG Gander and CBN St. John’s.

The Commission may withdraw this application from the public hearing if it is not advised by the Department of Industry, at least 20 days prior to the hearing, that the application is technically acceptable.

Applicant's address:

181 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1K9
Fax: 613-288-6257
Email: regulatoryaffairs@cbc.ca
Email to request electronic version of application: regulatoryaffairs@cbc.ca

2. Maritime Broadcasting System Limited
Campbellton, New Brunswick
Application 2021-0192-1

Application by Maritime Broadcasting System Limited for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Campbellton to replace the AM station CKNB Campbellton and provide a better audio signal.

The station would operate at 100.7 MHz (channel 264A) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,570 watts (maximum ERP of 5,330 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 182.3 metres).

The applicant proposes to broadcast 126 hours of programming per broadcast week, of which 118 hours would be devoted to local programming.

The Commission may withdraw this application from the public hearing if it is not advised by the Department of Industry, at least 20 days prior to the hearing, that the application is technically acceptable.

Applicant's address:

90 Lovett Lake Court
Suite 101
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3S 0H6
Fax: 902-423-2093
Email: corinne.crockett@mbsradio.com
Email to request electronic version of application: corinne.crockett@mbsradio.com

3. Interlake Mennonite Fellowship Church
Okno, Manitoba
Application 2021-0081-6

Application by Interlake Mennonite Fellowship Church for a broadcasting licence to operate an English and German-language religious (Church) FM radio station in Okno.

The station would operate at 107.9 MHz (channel 300A) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 220 watts (maximum ERP of 340 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 22.6 metres).

The applicant proposes to broadcast a total of 2 hours of programming per broadcast week, of which 1 hour would be in the English-language and 1 hour in the German-language. The station would broadcasts live masses, weddings, funerals, baptisms and other such religious celebrations.

The Commission may withdraw this application from the public hearing if it is not advised by the Department of Industry, at least 20 days prior to the hearing, that the application is technically acceptable.

Applicant’s address:

P.O. Box 973
Arborg, Manitoba
R0C 0A0
Email: delmar@marpmedia.com
Email to request electronic version of application: delmar@marpmedia.com

4. Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership
Various locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Applications 2021-0233-3 and 2021-0289-6

Applications by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (Pattison Industries) (the limited partner), carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership (JPBGLP), for authority to effect a multi-step intra-corporate reorganization in order to change the ownership of the broadcasting undertakings owned by JPBGLP and Merritt Broadcasting Ltd. (Merritt Broadcasting), which serve various locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

On 24 March 2021, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. the general partner, changed its name to Pattison Media Ltd. (Pattison Media).

All the above mentioned entities are ultimately owned and controlled by James A. Pattison.

The first step of the transaction would be effected through the transfer of Merritt Broadcasting shares held by Pattison Industries to Pattison Media (Application 2021-0289-6).

The second step would be effected through the acquisition by Pattison Media of the assets of Merritt Broadcasting and those of JPBGLP (Application 2021-0233-3). Consequently, Merritt Broadcasting would be dissolved into Pattison Media. Thereafter, Pattison Industries would transfer its participation (99.99%) in JPBGLP to Pattison Media, after which JPBGLP would also be dissolved.

Following the closing of the transaction, Pattison Media would become the licensee of all of the broadcasting undertakings involved in the transaction. The applicant is requesting that new broadcasting licences be issued to Pattison Media to continue the operation of the undertakings under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licences.

Pursuant to Tangible Benefits Policy - Simplified approach to tangible benefits and determining the value of the transaction, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2014-459, 5 September 2014, the Commission generally requires that tangible benefits be provided for changes to the effective control of all radio and television programming services. The applicant indicated that, as the transaction will not affect the effective control of the above-mentioned undertakings, the contribution to tangible benefits was not required.

The Commission reminds the current licensees and Pattison Media that any instance of apparent non-compliance related to the services transferred as part of this intra-corporate reorganization will be examined in the context of each broadcasting undertaking’s licence renewal.

Applicant's address:

460 Pemberton Terrace
Kamloops, British Columbia
V2C 1T5
Fax: 604-632-4482
Email: rod.schween@pattisonmedia.com
Email to request electronic version of application: cweafer@owenbird.com

Procedure

Deadline for interventions, comments or answers

9 August 2021

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (the Rules of Procedure) apply to the present proceeding. The Rules of Procedure set out, among other things, the rules for content, format, filing and service of interventions, answers, replies and requests for information; the procedure for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure; and the conduct of public hearings. Accordingly, the procedure set out below must be read in conjunction with the Rules of Procedure and related documents, which can be found on the Commission’s website under “Statutes and Regulations.” Guidelines on the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-959, 23 December 2010, provides information to help interested persons and parties understand the Rules of Procedure so that they can more effectively participate in Commission proceedings.

An intervention or answer from a respondent must be filed with the Commission and served on the applicant on or before the above-mentioned date. An answer from a respondent must also be served on any other respondent.

Interventions and answers must clearly identify the application referred to and indicate whether parties support or oppose the application, or, if they propose changes to it, include the facts and grounds for their proposal.

Parties are permitted to coordinate, organize, and file, in a single submission, interventions by other interested persons who share their position. Information on how to file this type of submission, known as a joint supporting intervention, as well as a template for the covering letter to be filed by the parties, can be found in Changes to certain practices for filing interventions – Expansion of filing practices to include the filing of joint supporting comments for broadcasting policy proceedings, Broadcasting Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-28-1, 10 December 2010.

The Commission encourages interested persons and parties to monitor the record of the proceeding, available on the Commission’s website, for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions.

Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary. Each paragraph of all submissions should be numbered, and the line ***End of document*** should follow the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during electronic transmission.

Pursuant to Filing submissions for Commission proceedings in accessible formats, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2015-242, 8 June 2015, the Commission expects incorporated entities and associations, and encourages all Canadians, to file submissions for Commission proceedings in accessible formats (for example, text-based file formats that allow text to be enlarged or modified, or read by screen readers). To provide assistance in this regard, the Commission has posted on its website guidelines for preparing documents in accessible formats.

Submissions must be filed by sending them to the Secretary General of the Commission using only one of the following means:

by completing the
[Intervention/comment/answer form]

or

by mail to
CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2

or

by fax at
819-994-0218

A true copy of each intervention or answer from a respondent must be sent to the applicant and, in the case of a respondent to an application, to any other respondent.

Parties who send documents electronically must ensure that they will be able to prove, upon Commission request, that filing, or where required, service of a particular document was completed. Accordingly, parties must keep proof of the sending and receipt of each document for 180 days after the date on which the document is filed or served. The Commission advises parties who file or serve documents by electronic means to exercise caution when using email for the service of documents, as it may be difficult to establish that service has occurred.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, a document must be received by the Commission and all relevant parties by 5 p.m. Vancouver time (8 p.m. Ottawa time) on the date it is due. Parties are responsible for ensuring the timely delivery of their submissions and will not be notified if their submissions are received after the deadline. Late submissions, including those due to postal delays, will not be considered by the Commission and will not be made part of the public record.

The Commission will not formally acknowledge submissions. It will, however, fully consider all submissions, which will form part of the public record of the proceeding, provided that the procedure for filing set out above has been followed.

Although the public hearing will be held in Gatineau, Quebec, the Commission will consider providing videoconference links to enable remote participation (audio or video), should it receive requests to do so.

Persons requiring communications support such as assistance listening devices and sign language interpretation are requested to inform the Commission at least 20 days before the commencement of the public hearing so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Important notice

All information that parties provide as part of this public process, except information designated confidential, whether sent by postal mail, fax, email or through the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission’s website. This information includes personal information, such as full names, email addresses, postal/street addresses, telephone and fax numbers, etc.

The personal information that parties provide will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the Commission, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

Documents received electronically or otherwise will be put on the Commission’s website in their entirety exactly as received, including any personal information contained therein, in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically will be available in PDF format.

The information that parties provide to the Commission as part of this public process is entered into an unsearchable database dedicated to this specific public process. This database is accessible only from the web page of this particular public process. As a result, a general search of the Commission’s website with the help of either its own search engine or a third-party search engine will not provide access to the information that was provided as part of this public process.

Availability of documents

Electronic versions of the applications are available on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca by selecting the application numbers within this notice. They are also available from the applicants, either on their websites or upon request by contacting the applicants at their email addresses, provided above.

Electronic versions of the interventions and answers, as well as of other documents referred to in this notice, are available on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca by visiting the “Consultations and hearings – Have your say!” section, then selecting “our applications and processes that are open for comment.” Documents can then be accessed by clicking on the links in the “Subject” and “Related Documents” columns associated with this particular notice.

Documents are also available at the following address, upon request, during normal business hours.

Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
Central Building
1 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
J8X 4B1
Tel.: 819-997-2429
Fax: 819-994-0218

Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782
Toll-free TTY: 1-877-909-2782

Secretary General

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