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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-147

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References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 29 September 2022 and 27 October 2022

Ottawa, 19 May 2023

Various licensees
Various locations in British Columbia

Public record: 2022-0575-7, 2022-0639-1 and 2022-0813-1

Various commercial radio stations – Licence renewals

  1. 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.
  2. Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercialradio programming undertakings listed below from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2030.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications. The licensees shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-334, as well as to the conditions set out into the broadcasting licence for each station.


    Commercial radio stations operating in British Columbia

    Licensee Call sign and locality Application
    Kenneth Collin Brown CHLW-FM Barriere 2022-0813-1
    Four Senses Entertainment Inc. CKEE-FM Whistler 2022-0575-7
    663975 B.C. Ltd. CKFU-FM Fort St. John 2022-0639-1

Reminders

Tangible benefits

  1. The Commission reminds Kenneth Collin Brown that in regard to CHLW-FM, it must pay any remaining tangible benefits stemming the ownership transaction that was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2018-23, within the timeline set out in the decision.

Local news

  1. 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.
  2. 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 licensees that their stations, in their 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 licensees to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

Force and effect of broadcasting licences

  1. Pursuant to section 22 of the Act, the broadcasting licences renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect if the broadcasting certificates issued by the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) lapse.

Cultural diversity

  1. The Commission expects the licensees to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in their programming and employment practices.

Canadian emerging artists

  1. Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332, the Commission expects the licensees to devote, in each broadcast week, at least 5% of their stations’ musical selections to selections from Canadian emerging artists broadcast in their entirety. The licensees should report annually on how they have 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 licensees should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.
  2. 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

  1. Consistent with the Commission’s determination set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332, the Commission expects the licensees to include Indigenous musical selections on their stations’ playlist. The licensees 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 licensees should also be able to provide, upon request, information such as a list of all titles, artists, and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) numbers.
  2. For the purposes of the above paragraph, the licensees 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.

Employment equity

  1. In accordance with Public Notice 1992-59, the Commission encourages the licensees to consider employment equity in their hiring practices and in all other aspects of their management of human resources.

Practical guide for radio licence renewals

  1. 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

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

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