Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution List
Gatineau, 9 September 2025
BY EMAIL
Distribution List
Subject: Applications 2025-0318-5 and 2025-0319-3 – CBAF-FM-5 Halifax and CBAX-FM Halifax, Nova Scotia – Technical amendment to broadcasting licences – Derogation to the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure in order to process the applications
The Commission has received the above-noted applications from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to change the authorized contours of the French-language radio programming undertakings CBAF-FM-5 Halifax and CBAX-FM Halifax, Nova Scotia which broadcast ICI Radio-Canada Première programming. These changes will maintain the quality of ICI Radio-Canada Première’s signal and better serve Halifax and surrounding communities.
CBC specifies that the Halifax listeners are at high risk of losing the signals of the stations CBAF-FM-5 and CBAX-FM, because the existing antenna has reached the end of its useful life and must be replaced to ensure the stations’ continuity.
Staff notes that the proposed primary contours would be different from the authorized primary contours. These changes would slightly decrease the number of listeners served. Even though the Halifax community would continue to be served by CBAF-FM-5 and CBAX-FM, certain individuals within the contours would no longer receive the signal from the stations.
Pursuant to section 5.2 of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission must consult Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) when making decisions that could adversely affect them.
Considering that the proposed changes to the primary contours of the stations will lead to a loss of service for some community members, Commission staff is of the view that these applications could adversely affect OLMC members. Commission staff invites OLMC members to consult the applications that were published today on the Commission’s website. OLMC members may submit interventions during the first intervention period, which is open to any interested party.
Additionally, in an exception to the Rules of Practice and Procedure (“the Rules”), a second intervention period of 10 days, reserved exclusively for OLMC members, has been added to this process. This period will follow the usual intervention period, allowing OLMC members to comment on the initial applications as well as the interventions of other parties as it relates to the impact of the applications on OLMCs.
For the purposes of the second intervention period, the Commission will pay particular attention to the official languages issues raised by these applications and invites interveners to comment on potential measures to mitigate any adverse effect on the OLMC.
The procedure described below applies only to applications 2025-0318-5 and 2025-0319-3 and does not constitute a predetermination on any issue in the applications. This does not amend the Rules of Procedure with respect to Part 1 applications in general.
Amended procedure for the processing of applications 2025-0318-5 and 2025-0319-3.
Intervention and reply periods concerning the applications:
- First intervention period of 30 days following the date of publication of the application. All interested parties may file their interventions, in accordance with subsection 26(1) of the Rules of Procedure. Deadline for filing an intervention: 9 October 2025.
- New: Additional intervention period reserved exclusively for OLMC members, 10 days following the deadline for the first interventions. Deadline for filing an intervention: 20 October 2025.
- Applicant’s reply, 10 days following the second intervention period, in accordance with subsection 27(1) of the Rules of Procedure. Deadline for the applicant to file a reply: 30 October 2025.
Should you need further information concerning this application, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 873-455-4137or by email at isabelle.jacques@crtc.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Jacques
Senior Analyst
CRTC – French-Language Audio Operations
c.c.: regulatoryaffairs@cbc.ca; *crtc-olmcdiscussiongroupexternal@crtc.gc.ca
Liste de distribution / Distribution list:
Acadian Embassy, acadianembassy@gmail.com
Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse (AJEFNE), info@ajefne.ns.ca
Conseil communautaire du Grand-Havre, info@ccgh.ca
Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), info@cdene.ns.ca
Immigration francophone Nouvelle-Écosse, info@ifne.ca
Les Productions du 4e Mur, info@4emur.ca
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