Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-116
Reference: Part 1 licence renewal application posted on 22 November 2022
Ottawa, 2 May 2023
10070394 Canada Inc.
St. Catharines, Ontario
Public record: 2022-0778-7
CFAJ St. Catharines – Licence renewal
- The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue and renew licences for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as it deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Act.
- Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercialradio programming undertaking CFAJ St. Catharines, Ontario, from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2030.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
Reminders
Tangible benefits
- The Commission reminds the licensee that it must pay any remaining tangible benefits stemming from the ownership transaction that was approved on 18 October 2017 in a letter decision, within the timeline set out in the decision.
Local news
- Radio stations are an important daily source of local news and information for communities. Holding a broadcasting licence comes with conditions, regulatory obligations and responsibilities, which include contributing to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring that Canadians have access to local programming that reflects their needs and interests and informs them of important current issues.
- Although Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332 does not specify a minimum level of weekly news to be broadcast, it does specify the type of spoken word material that must be included as part of a station’s local programming. In accordance with that regulatory policy, the Commission reminds the licensee that its station, in its local programming, must incorporate spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the communities served, and that this programming must include local news, weather, sports coverage, and the promotion of local events and activities. In addition, the Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.
Force and effect of broadcasting licences
- Pursuant to section 22 of the Act, the broadcasting licence renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect if the broadcasting certificate issued by the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) lapse.
Practical guide for radio licence renewals
- To learn more about the Commission’s review of compliance with requirements relating to radio licences, and about the radio renewal process, please consult the Commission’s Practical guide to radio licence renewals.
Secretary General
Related documents
- Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332 , 7 December 2022
- Various commercial radio programming undertakings – Administrative renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-297 , 30 August 2021
This decision is to be appended to the licence.
Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-116
Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragement for the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CFAJ St. Catharines, Ontario
Terms
The licence will expire 31 August 2030.
Conditions of licence
- The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Revised conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-334, 7 December 2022, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
- Where the licensee broadcasts religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, as amended from time to time, the licensee shall adhere to the guidelines set out in sections III.B.2.a) and IV of that public notice regarding the provision of balance and ethics in religious programming.
- To fulfill its outstanding commitments to Canadian content development (CCD) set out in the appendix to English-language AM radio station in St. Catharines, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-143, 20 April 2016, in addition to the basic annual contribution to CCD set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, as amended from time to time, the licensee shall contribute a total of $20,000 over its next five years of operation to the promotion and development of Canadian content, to be allocated as follows:
- $3,000 in the 2023-2024 broadcast year;
- $3,500 in the 2024-2025 broadcast year;
- $4,000 in the 2025-2026 broadcast year;
- $4,500 in the 2026-2027 broadcast year; and
- $5,000 in the 2027-2028 broadcast year.
The licensee shall allocate at least 20% of these amounts in each broadcast year to FACTOR or Musicaction. The remainder shall be allocated to parties and initiatives that fulfill the criteria for eligible initiatives set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022. Examples of eligible and ineligible initiatives are provided on the Commission’s Canadian Content Development Contributions and Eligible Initiatives webpage.
Expectations
Cultural diversity
The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices.
Canadian emerging artists
Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022 (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332), the Commission expects the licensee to devote, in each broadcast week, at least 5% of the station’s musical selections to selections from Canadian emerging artists broadcast in their entirety. The licensee should report annually on how it has met this expectation, including the percentage of selections from Canadian emerging artists out of the total number of musical selections that were aired, and the number of distinct artists whose music has been aired. The licensee should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.
For the purposes of the above paragraph, the definition of “Canadian emerging artist” is the same as that set out in paragraph 346 of Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332.
Indigenous musical selections
Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Revised Commercial Radio Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022 (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332), the Commission expects the licensee to include Indigenous musical selections on the station’s playlist. The licensee should report annually on the amount of Indigenous content aired on the station throughout the broadcast year (i.e., from 1 September to 31 August), including the percentage of Indigenous musical selections out of the total number of musical selections that were aired, and the number of distinct artists whose music has been aired. The licensee should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.
For the purposes of the above paragraph, the licensee may use the provisional definition of “Indigenous-Canadian musical selection” set out in paragraph 441 of Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332 to determine whether a musical selection can be considered an Indigenous musical selection.
Encouragement
In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
- Date modified: