The Quebec Media Production Association (AQPM) says it is concerned about CBC/Radio-Canada’s programming for the years to come, as the CRTC has just renewed its licenses by lifting most of the conditions to which the public broadcaster had to comply. submit for decades, without warning the stakeholders concerned. She wishes to appeal the decision of the federal body, believing that it “exceeded its jurisdiction and committed an error of law”.
“This is exceptional and unexpected preferential treatment. Never, during the process, would one have thought that the CRTC would decide to deregulate the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (SRC) in such a fundamental way, giving it almost carte blanche for its programming and spending for the next five years. This is unheard of ! says Hélène Messier, President and CEO of the AQPM, which represents and supports more than 160 Quebec independent production companies in film, television and on the Web.
The Association filed a motion with the Federal Court of Appeal on Friday seeking leave to appeal the decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
“By departing from its own precedents and prior policies without adequate justification, without notice, without prior public and political scrutiny, and without consensus among the various stakeholders as to the approach taken, the CRTC has made an arbitrary decision. The CRTC therefore exceeded its jurisdiction and erred in law,” reads the document submitted to the Court that The duty was able to consult.
Thresholds abolished
The CRTC — which regulates electronic media in the country — decided last month to relax the license conditions of the public broadcaster. Among other things, it abandoned the minimum expenditure and broadcast thresholds for Canadian programs, programs produced by independent producers, drama series, documentaries, local programs or even children’s programs on television.
However, the SRC will now have to invest more in its content from producers who are indigenous, racialized, with disabilities or who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The federal agency’s justification? Maintaining the old requirements could prevent the CBC from having “the flexibility required in an evolving broadcasting system” and hamper “its ability to produce content that is enlightening, relevant and reflective of Canadians.” The CRTC also adds that historically, the public broadcaster has always complied with its license conditions and reached the expected quotas and that there is nothing to suggest that it will stop doing so.
“Perhaps the requirements have always been respected because they were precisely legal obligations, drops Hélène Messier, of the AQPM. The CBC can do whatever it wants now. However, the public is entitled to a varied program. »
The Association obviously fears that this decision will reduce the workload of its members and lead to job losses.
Moreover, according to M.me Messier, this is a precedent that could “precarize the entire Canadian broadcasting ecosystem”. “The large private broadcasting groups will certainly seek to benefit from the same conditions when renewing their own licenses,” she says.
The SRC and the CRTC declined to comment on the steps and criticisms of the AQPM.
In recent weeks, the Canadian Media Guild, the union that represents the majority of CBC workers, has also publicly voiced its concerns. She fears that the public broadcaster will make cuts to television news programming in metropolitan areas and that this will lead to job losses and the disappearance of varied and quality information content for Canadians.