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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-139

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 30 January 2026

Gatineau, 18 June 2026

United Christian Broadcasters Media Canada
Various locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario

Public record: 2024-0048-0

Various radio stations – Amendment to conditions of service

Summary

The Commission approves the application by United Christian Broadcasters Media Canada (UCB Media) to amend the conditions of service for its commercial specialty (Religious music) radio stations CFIH-FM Kelowna and its transmitter, CKXB-FM Kamloops, British Columbia; CKOS-FM Fort McMurray and CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta; CIUC-FM Regina and CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; CKJJ-FM Belleville and its transmitters, CKJJ-FM-2 Brockville, CKJJ-FM-3 Kingston, CKJJ-FM-4 Bancroft, and CKJJ-FM-5 Maynooth, Ontario; CKGW-FM Chatham and CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario; CJOA-FM Thunder Bay and its transmitter, CJOA-FM-1 Nipigon, Ontario; and CJAH-FM Windsor, Ontario.

For each station, UCB Media requested the removal of the condition of service that requires it to devote at least 15% of its musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections. The licensee proposed to adhere to the standard requirement of 10% set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986. The requested removal of that condition of service would result in all the licensee’s stations being subject to the standard requirement of 10%.

The Commission finds that approval of the requested amendment would be in the public interest, would not undermine the integrity of the licensing process, and could help UCB Media harmonize operations across its stations.

Background

  1. Religious music radio stations must, by condition of service, devote almost all of the musical selections they broadcast to musical selections drawn from content subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious), which falls under content category 3 (Special Interest Music).Footnote 1
  2. Unless otherwise specified in a condition of service, religious music radio stations must also ensure that at least 10% of all content category 3 musical selections they broadcast each broadcast week are Canadian selections, as set out in paragraph 2.2(3)(b) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations).
  3. United Christian Broadcasters Media Canada (UCB Media) operates 10 licensed religious music radio stations. These stations must devote either 90% or 95% of their musical selections to content subcategory 35 musical selections. Seven of these stations have a condition of service requiring them to devote at least 15% of all musical selections drawn from content category 3 (which includes content subcategory 35 musical selections) to Canadian selections. The remaining stations are subject to the standard 10% regulatory requirement.

Application

  1. On 9 February 2024, the Commission received an application from UCB Media requesting the removal of the condition of service that requires it to devote at least 15% of its musical selections from content category 3 to Canadian selections.
  2. While the licensee requested this relief for all its stations,Footnote 2 CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta; CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and CFIH-FM Kelowna, British Columbia are already subject to the standard 10% Canadian content requirement for content category 3 musical selections.
  3. As a result, if the Commission approves the application, all of UCB Media’s stations would be subject to the 10% regulatory requirement set out in the Regulations.
  4. In support of its application, UCB Media stated that validating the citizenship of each performer and songwriter in order to meet the current requirement of 15% consumes a great deal of the time and resources of its relatively small staff. UCB Media also submitted that the requirement compels the stations to choose less desirable programming options, such as overplaying certain songs or playing songs that do not align with the station’s style. It added that these programming choices negatively impact both its audience and its income.
  5. UCB Media indicated that the requested change to its conditions of service does not mean that its commitment to Canadian recording artists has changed. Rather, it considered that its request reflects the difficulty the organization faces in trying to meet the 15% Canadian content requirement set out by condition of service.

Interventions

  1. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.

Issues

  1. After examining the record for this application in light of applicable regulations and policies, the Commission considers that it must address the following issues:

    • whether UCB Media’s stations are in compliance with their condition of service relating to the broadcast of Canadian content category 3 musical selections;
    • whether approval of the application would be in the public interest or whether it would undermine the integrity of the Commission’s licensing process; and
    • whether approval of the application would help alleviate the licensee’s administrative burden.

Compliance with conditions of service relating to the broadcast of Canadian content category 3 musical selections

  1. The Commission evaluates applications for amendments to conditions of service on a case-by-case basis. It periodically reviews the compliance record of stations, including when they apply to amend or remove conditions of service. Further, the Commission expects radio station licensees to be in compliance with any conditions of service that they seek to change or remove. It is the licensee’s responsibility to demonstrate its compliance.
  2. In recent years, Commission staff have monitored the programming of several of UCB Media’s stations. For example, it monitored the programming of CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario, during the week of 11 to 17 June 2023. While the first monitoring report indicated that the licensee devoted only 7% of the station’s musical selections from content category 3 to Canadian selections, this percentage was revised to 14.2% after UCB Media submitted additional evidence. As a result, the licensee was in apparent non-compliance with its condition of service by only a very small margin. The licensee appeared to be in compliance with all other requirements.
  3. During the past 10 years, there have been no other instances of apparent non-compliance by UCB Media’s stations with the Commission’s requirements relating to the broadcast of content category 3 musical selections.
  4. The Commission notes that UCB Media has been responsive and candid in answering Commission requests for information. In the Commission’s view, the licensee’s explanation for the minor breach and the measures it has proposed to help prevent further issues are reasonable, including its proposal to update the parameters of its music scheduling software and to remove the Canadian content designation from any songs found not to qualify as Canadian.
  5. In light of the above, the Commission finds that UCB Media is generally in compliance with its condition of service relating to the broadcast of Canadian content category 3 musical selections.
  6. Further, the Commission considers that approval of UCB Media’s requested licence amendments would facilitate the licensee’s compliance with regulatory requirements while continuing to support Canadian artists. Specifically, the stations would continue to be required to devote at least 10% of their content category 3 musical selections to Canadian selections, consistent with the Regulations.

Public interest and the integrity of the Commission’s licensing process

  1. The Commission expects an applicant who has been granted a broadcasting licence as part of a competitive process to maintain the original conditions of service for that station for at least the first licence term.
  2. Of the stations addressed in the present application, only CKOS-FM Fort McMurray, Alberta’s licence was granted as part of a competitive process, in 2006. That station has since had several licence term renewals.
  3. Approval of the requested amendment would not change the stations’ type of programming. Specifically, those stations would continue to broadcast a specialty religious music format and would be required to devote almost all of their musical selections to religious music. In addition, there are no other commercial specialty (Religious music) radio stations in the markets that UCB Media is licensed to serve. The Commission considers that UCB Media would continue to offer an independent voice and contribute to the diversity of voices in those markets.
  4. In light of the above, the Commission finds that approving UCB Media’s requested amendment would be in the public interest and would not undermine the integrity of the Commission’s licensing process.

Administrative burden

  1. In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2025-265, the Commission emphasized the need, pursuant to paragraph 5(2)(g) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to reduce the administrative burden on radio broadcasters. It added that it intended to streamline and harmonize processes and requirements where possible.
  2. The Commission emphasizes that it does not consider Canadian content obligations themselves to constitute an administrative burden. Paragraph 3(1)(e) of the Act states that each element of the Canadian broadcasting system shall contribute in an appropriate manner to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming.
  3. At the same time, the Commission acknowledges that confirming the Canadian status of specialty musical selections can be time-consuming, especially for smaller broadcasters and especially in situations like the present one, where a broadcaster’s multiple stations of the same type have differing obligations. Broadcasters may need to conduct additional research to confirm whether the selections meet the criteria to be considered a Canadian musical selection, and to do so while also accounting for variable thresholds. When Commission staff monitored CHJJ-FM Cobourg’s programming in 2023, the licensee needed several weeks to provide the requested additional evidence confirming the Canadian status of some of the musical selections.
  4. The Commission considers that approving UCB Media’s requested licence amendments would allow the licensee to harmonize its requirements, streamline its operations, and facilitate consistency across its stations. The requested amendment is also consistent with the requirement set out in paragraph 2.2(3)(b) of the Regulations and with the Commission’s regulatory framework.
  5. In light of the above, the Commission finds that approval of the requested amendment is consistent with the Commission’s objective to modernize its requirements, streamline its processes, and provide greater flexibility to radio broadcasters.

Conclusion

  1. In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application by UCB Media to amend the conditions of service for its religious music radio stations CKOS-FM Fort McMurray, CIUC-FM Regina, CHJJ-FM Cobourg, CJAH-FM Windsor, CJOA-FM Thunder Bay and its transmitter, CKGW-FM Chatham, and CKJJ-FM Belleville and its transmitters, by removing the condition of service requiring it to devote at least 15% of its musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections.
  2. This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Reminders

Local news

  1. Radio stations are an important daily source of local news and information for communities. Carrying on a broadcasting undertaking 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 the Revised Commercial Radio Policy Footnote 3 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 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 licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

National Public Alerting System

  1. The Commission has implemented obligations in respect of the broadcast of emergency alerts. For reference, see section 16 of the Regulations and Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2014-444. The licensee must implement the public alerting system for each of its transmitters, and ensure that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages be installed and programmed to properly account for the applicable contour (as set out in paragraph 16(2)(b) of the Regulations) of the stations as well as that of any rebroadcasting transmitter that may appear on the licences for those stations.

Employment equity

  1. In accordance with Public Notice 1992-59, the licensee should consider employment equity in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
  2. The amendments to the Broadcasting Act resulting from the Online Streaming Act place greater emphasis on the inclusion of Indigenous persons, Canadians from Black or other racialized communities, and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages, in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission has announced consultations on diversity and inclusion in its Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework. In the meantime, the Commission expects the licensee to reflect this emphasis in its operational decisions.

Secretary General

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-139

Conditions of service and expectations for the commercial specialty radio programming undertakings CFIH-FM Kelowna and its transmitter, CKXB-FM Kamloops, British Columbia; CKOS-FM Fort McMurray and CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta; CIUC-FM Regina and CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; CKJJ-FM Belleville and its transmitters, CKJJ-FM-2 Brockville, CKJJ-FM-3 Kingston, CKJJ-FM-4 Bancroft, and CKJJ-FM-5 Maynooth, Ontario; CKGW-FM Chatham and CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario; CJOA-FM Thunder Bay and its transmitter, CJOA-FM-1 Nipigon, Ontario; and CJAH-FM Windsor, Ontario

Conditions of service applicable to all stations

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of service set out in Revised conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-334, 7 December 2022, with the exception of condition of licence 7, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
  2. The licensee shall adhere to all applicable requirements set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986, that were made under paragraph 10(1)(a) or under paragraph 10(1)(i) of the old Broadcasting Act.
  3. The station shall be operated within the Specialty format as defined in A Review of Certain Matters Concerning Radio, Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, 21 April 1995, in conjunction with Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-333, 7 December 2022.

Additional condition of service applicable to CFIH-FM Kelowna and its transmitter, CKXB-FM Kamloops, British Columbia; CKOS-FM Fort McMurray and CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta; CIUC-FM Regina and CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; CKJJ-FM Belleville and its transmitters, CKJJ-FM-2 Brockville, CKJJ-FM-3 Kingston, CKJJ-FM-4 Bancroft, and CKJJ-FM-5 Maynooth, Ontario; CKGW-FM Chatham and CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario; CJOA-FM Thunder Bay and its transmitter, CJOA-FM-1 Nipigon, Ontario; and CJAH-FM Windsor, Ontario

  1. Where the licensee broadcasts religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, the licensee shall adhere to the guidelines set out in sections III.B.2.a) and IV of that public notice with respect to the provision of balance and ethics in religious programming.

Additional condition of service applicable to CFIH-FM Kelowna and its transmitter, CKXB-FM Kamloops, British Columbia; CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta; CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; CKJJ-FM Belleville and its transmitters, CKJJ-FM-2 Brockville, CKJJ-FM-3 Kingston, CKJJ-FM-4 Bancroft, and CKJJ-FM-5 Maynooth, Ontario; CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario; CJOA-FM Thunder Bay and its transmitter, CJOA-FM-1 Nipigon, Ontario; and CJAH-FM Windsor, Ontario

  1. The licensee shall devote at least 95% of all musical selections broadcast each broadcast week to selections from content subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious) as defined in Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-333, 7 December 2022.

    For the purposes of this condition of service, the terms “broadcast week,” “content category,” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

Additional condition of service applicable to CKOS-FM Fort McMurray, Alberta; CIUC-FM Regina, Saskatchewan; and CKGW-FM Chatham, Ontario

  1. During each broadcast week, at least 90% of all musical selections shall be drawn from content subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious) as defined in Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-333, 7 December 2022.

    For the purposes of this condition of service, “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category,” “content subcategory,” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

Additional condition of service applicable to CHJJ-FM Cobourg, Ontario

  1. The licensee shall make basic annual contributions to Canadian content development, in accordance with the regime set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986.

Additional condition of service applicable to CIUC-FM Regina, Saskatchewan

  1. In addition to the basic annual contribution to Canadian content development, set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, the licensee shall, upon commencement of operations, make an annual contribution of $1,000 ($7,000 over seven consecutive broadcast years) to the promotion and development of Canadian content. Of this amount, at least 20% per broadcast year shall be devoted to FACTOR or Musicaction. The remainder shall be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006.

Additional condition of service applicable to CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the Commission’s policy regarding open-line programming, as set out in Policy regarding open-line programming, Public Notice CRTC 1988-213, 23 December 1988.

Additional condition of service applicable to CIHX-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

  1. In addition to the basic annual contribution to Canadian content development, set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, the licensee shall, upon commencement of operations, make a contribution of $13,000 over seven broadcast years to the promotion and development of Canadian content, as follows:

    • year 1 - $1,000;
    • year 2 - $1,000;
    • year 3 - $1,000;
    • year 4 - $2,000;
    • year 5 - $2,000;
    • year 6 - $3,000; and
    • year 7 - $3,000.

    Of this amount, at least 20% per broadcast year shall be devoted to FACTOR or Musicaction. The remainder shall be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006.

Additional condition of service applicable to CFIH-FM Kelowna and its transmitter, CKXB-FM Kamloops, British Columbia

  1. In addition to the basic annual contribution to Canadian content development, set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, the licensee shall, upon commencement of operations, make a contribution of $13,000 over seven broadcast years to the promotion and development of Canadian content, as follows:

    • year 1 - $1,000;
    • year 2 - $1,000;
    • year 3 - $1,000;
    • year 4 - $2,000;
    • year 5 - $2,000;
    • year 6 - $3,000; and
    • year 7 - $3,000.

    Of this amount, at least 20% per broadcast year shall be devoted to FACTOR or Musicaction. The remainder shall be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006.

Expectations

Diversity

The Broadcasting Act places significant emphasis on the inclusion and reflection of Indigenous persons as well as Canadians from Black or other racialized communities and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages, in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission expects the licensee to take concrete measures to ensure it contributes to this inclusion and reflection in both its programming and its 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 was 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 was 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.

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