Government Remands Two Ottawa License Decisions To CRTC

The Canadian government has sent two decisions on licenses for new FMs in OTTAWA-GATINEAU back to the CRTC for reconsideration and hearing. The agency granted licenses on AUGUST 26th to ASTRAL MEDIA for a soft AC "comfort radio" format and to FRANK TORRES for a "blues-based Rock format" station in the capital, but the government has referred the cases back to the CRTC, with concerns that the CRTC should have instead granted licenses to serve the French-speaking community in the market.

Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages JAMES MOORE said, "Our Government recognizes radio's contribution to the vitality of Anglophone and Francophone minority communities. In referring the decisions back to the CRTC, we expect that it will reconsider what it decided about radio frequencies in OTTAWA-GATINEAU. We are asking the Commission to fully consider and explain its approach to evaluating the needs of official-language minority communities and how it applies in this case."

He added, "Last JUNE, when we presented the Roadmap for CANADA's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013, we asked the CRTC to examine the broadcasting services provided to minority Anglophones and Francophones. The Roadmap is proof of our commitment to promoting both our official languages. We want the CRTC to determine the views of residents of the region through a public hearing to start in JANUARY 2009. This will enable the CRTC to consider all viewpoints and identify the challenges to be met in providing Canadians with broadcasting services suited to their needs."

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