Questions and Answers – Study regarding the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC)

Q&A on CMAC

Q1. Who is CMAC?

According to its website, the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) is a not-for profit organization operating since 2015 and located in Montréal, Québec whose “mandate is to support self-determination in media through research, relationship building, advocacy, and learning”. It engages in policy processes affecting “racialized, disabled, and Indigenous people in the media”. It is “comprised of academics, lawyers, policy consultants and experienced community media practitioners who have expertise in ethnic broadcasting and cultural diversity in media”. (cmacentre.ca, consulted on Sept. 27th)

Q2. Has CMAC ever received funding before from Canadian Heritage?

No, this project is the first time that CMAC received funding from Canadian Heritage.

Q3. What was CMAC to use the funding for?

The Community Media Advocacy Centre’s (CMAC) project, "Building an Anti-Racism Strategy for Canadian Broadcasting: Conversation & Convergence" was to run from September 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023. The goal was to address employment-related barriers facing racialized communities, Indigenous peoples and religious minorities in Canadian broadcasting and media.

Q4. What had been done so far in their project?

CMAC started the implementation of its project plan and held three of the six planned engagement sessions.

The three engagement sessions held were in Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax. The others, which were to be held in September (Calgary and Ottawa) and October (Winnipeg) have been ended by PCH.

Q5. What are the programs for anti-racism and multiculturalism?

There are two programs:

Through the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives over the past four years (since 2018-19) nearly $56.5M has been invested in 1,352 projects, events and other activities.

The Anti-Racism Action Program was launched in 2019 and since then has funded 174 projects for a total investment of $35 million.

Q6. What is being done to address the situation?

The contract has been terminated.

We are also strengthening our application materials to make it clear that organizations and individuals that espouse racist, antisemitic, and/or other forms of hateful content are not eligible to receive government funding. The Department is also strengthening its vetting and monitoring processes, including training for program officers.

Programs under Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives and the Anti-Racism Action Programs) have been paused until Program Changes and a Review of Active Recipients are completed.

Q7. How many active files are being reviewed?

There are approximately 350 contribution agreements in place for the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) and Anti-Racism Action (ARAP) Programs that are being reviewed.

Q8. What new procedures/guidelines are being implemented and have they been posted on the Canadian Heritage Website?

The department of Canadian Heritage is actively undertaking a comprehensive review of funding programs that support Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy including how applications are assessed and the monitoring procedures for funded initiatives, with the goal of enhancing prevention and oversight.

We are making changes to the program guidelines, application forms (declaration/attestation section) and to the contribution agreement template to make it clear that projects that espouse hate or discrimination will not be eligible for funding.

Those changes are being implemented and will be posted online.

Q9. What new training are you putting in place?

All program employees across the country will receive the training required to implement enhanced processes. New material updates and training sessions will take place in the Fall of 2022, virtually and in person to all program employees.

The training will include the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

Q10. Why hasn’t the Department moved faster to address harmful content online when you are leading a Bill on that topic?

Minister Rodriguez and the Department are working on the development of a legislative and regulatory framework on online safety to keep platforms accountable for the content they host.

Our government wants to ensure we are getting this right and is taking the time required to do so.

Q&A on Process

Q11. Was the existing vetting process followed for CMAC?

Yes. PCH is a grants and contributions department. The department administers 1.7 billion in grants and contributions every year. This means that thousands of grants and contributions are negotiated with individuals and organizations. The Department has established vetting procedures and the procedures in this case were followed.

The project was assessed which included an assessment of the public profile of the organization, the organization’s track record, the external environment, the financials. In this case, there was a search done of the organization and there were no flags and so no further assessment of the individuals in the organization was undertaken. If the individual’s views had been discovered, the project would not have been funded. This is why we are looking to strengthen our vetting process.

Q12. What social media searches are included in these searches?

An internet search is done as part of the assessment of the external environment. This can include social media searches.

Q13. What was the process for approvals for the Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP)?

The Recommendation for Approval Form is completed, recommended by the program manager and/or director, and sent to the Department’s Centre of Excellence for quality review. The file is then forwarded to the Minister for review and approval.

Q14. Will the new processes apply to all of Canadian Heritage’s programs?

Our immediate priority is to apply these changes to the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) and the Anti-Racism Action (ARAP) Programs under the responsibility of Minister Hussen.

Q&A on News Release

Q15. Why was a news release issued by the organization with a quote by the Minister?

Promotion of government funded projects is part of the program mandate and provides visibility and greater participation rates. Funding recipients are responsible for the creation and distribution of communications products associated with their projects.

Public acknowledgement of Government of Canada financial assistance is a condition of funding.

The Department regularly receives requests for ministerial quotes in partner news releases.

In this case, CMAC contacted the Department in March requesting a quote. The Department followed its regular procedures, and a quote was provided. CMAC issued their news release on April 14th.

Q16. What is the normal process for a partner news release? Was it followed? Who approved it?

When a funding recipient wishes to include a ministerial quote in its news release, it provides the Canadian Heritage program officer with a draft copy of its news release. The Department reviews the draft and ensures that the text submitted respects the details of the contribution agreement.

The Minister’s office then confirms its willingness to offer a quote which is provided to the organization by the Departement. These steps were taken following the request from CMAC for a ministerial quote.

Q17. Are you vetting names that are part of the news release?

The vetting process of organizations takes place during the evaluation of applications for Canadian Heritage funding.

Once a project has been approved, organizations are expected to respect the terms and condition of the contribution agreement and uphold values and behaviors that are in line with the objective of the projects.

Q&A on Awareness of the tweets/blogs

Q18. The issue was flagged through social media, why was it not seen and actioned?

The Department uses social media for environmental monitoring relating to policies, programs, services and initiatives and share information about programs and initiatives.

Canadian Heritage social media accounts are tagged approximately 10,000 times a month, and due to that volume, comprehensive and regular monitoring presents a significant challenge.

We are reviewing our procedures to reduce the chances of this happening in the future.

Q19. When were you aware of the tweets/blog posts?

The Department was made aware of the issue on July 26 and received one of the offensive tweets on August 2. At that time, it gathered more information, reviewed the contractual obligations, sought legal advice and moved to issue the Notice of Default on August 19.

The first media call was received on August 15, related to funding that CMAC received from the Canada Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Q20. What actions did you take when you became aware?

The Department sought more information and legal advice. Subsequently, the Notice of Default was sent to the organization on August 19 and the contract was suspended. On September 23, the contract was rescinded and terminated.

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Date modified:: 2023-02-02

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