CUPE is calling for a complete overhaul of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) to give it some teeth and allow it to fulfill its mandate to promote diversity, regional programming and Canadian culture. The bold recommendations were presented this week to the Commons Heritage Committee.
“The basic problem is that the CRTC isn’t playing its role,” says Jacqueline Turgeon, president of the council that represents 7,000 CUPE communications workers employed at several television networks and other media in Qub0065c. “It’s an institution that’s lost touch with reality and that no one listens to. The big media owners do what they want and the CRTC lets them.”
To combat the increased concentration of media ownership, the loss of community TV and the weakening of the CBC’s mandate for regional programming, CUPE recommends the CRTC be divided into two agencies. One would issue licenses while the other would play an active role in ensuring that broadcasters are living up to their licensing commitments.