CRTC chair blasts lack of indigenous input
EMILY JACKSON
With only a few months left at the helm of the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais lamented the absence of indigenous commissioners at the regulator as it kicked off a public hearing for aboriginal radio stations on Monday.
“I would like to share that I profoundly regret that the panel does not include indigenous members,” Blais said in a speech at the start of the three-day hearing in Gatineau, Que., at which the panel will consider proposals and ultimately award five licences for indigenous radio stations in five major cities.
Blais said the hearing is about giving indigenous people a voice, as broadcasting plays an important role in reconciliation. But he criticized the federal government for failing to appoint indigenous people to the commission, which is in the midst of a leadership shakeup as his term edges closer to its June expiry date. Four of the top roles are up for grabs, though the hiring process was delayed several times. “Past and present governments have not appointed qualified candidates from your communities for almost 20 years. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about this. Nominations are made by cabinet,” Blais said.
Blais promised the commissioners would make their best decision possible based on their knowledge as five organizations vie for the frequencies in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
The frequencies have been available since the CRTC revoked the licences from Aboriginal Voices Radio in June 2015 after finding it did not comply with strict licensing regulations. While the CRTC intends to do a larger consultation on its indigenous radio policies, it won’t wait to grant the licences so urban aboriginal communities can access stations with culturally relevant information and local talent.
Competing for the licences are the Wawatay Native Communications Society, the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta, VMS Media Group Ltd., Northern Native Broadcasting and First Peoples Radio Inc.