December 22, 1998

OTTAWA-HULL — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is reviewing its policy on third language and ethnic radio and television programming in the Canadian Broadcasting System. As part of this review it will hold a series of public consultations in these cities on the following dates:

The exact locations for these sessions are attached. All sessions will begin at 4:00 p.m. and will run until all participants have been heard. Transcriptions of these proceedings will be made and will form part of the public record.

The Commission will use these public consultations to examine the policies and regulations that were established in 1985 when A Broadcasting Policy Reflecting Canada’s Cultural and Linguistic Diversity was issued. Since then, Canada’s demographic profile has changed considerably, and the amount of third language and ethnic programming available in the Canadian broadcasting system has increased substantially.

Françoise Bertrand, CRTC Chairperson says, "We want to know how well Canadian third language and ethnic programming serves Canada’s ethnocultural audiences. We would also like to improve our understanding of the underlying economics of this type of broadcasting so that we can evaluate the ability of broadcasters to serve different ethnic groups."

To this end, the Commission will ask a number of questions which include:

Anyone interested in expressing their views to the Commission on this topic can do so by attending one of these public consultations in person, by providing written comments to the Commission by March 4th, 1999, or both. All written comments must be mailed in hard copy format to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2. A copy of these comments may also be sent via e-mail to culture@crtc.gc.ca . The Commission will try to make arrangements for people who cannot attend the consultation sessions in person to participate by teleconference.

If you wish to take part in one of the public consultation sessions listed above, please register by calling toll-free 1-877-249-CRTC at least seven days prior to the date of the proceeding. Please tell us at the same time, whether you will require simultaneous translation or communications support, such as assistive listening devices or sign language interpretation.

Reference documents:  Public Notice CRTC 1998-135
                                       Public Notice CRTC 1998-41
                                       Public Notice CRTC 1998-8
                                       Public Notice CRTC 1985-139

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Contact:  Denis Carmel, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
               Tel: (819) 997-9403, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 997-4245
               eMail: denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca
               Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)

Copies of today's notices are available through our Internet site ( http://www.crtc.gc.ca ) or by contacting the public examination room of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

Documentation Centre: 55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 624, Toronto, Ontario, (416) 952-9096

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