Petitions to the Governor in Council

• Context
• Eligibility
• Submission deadline
• Two-step submission Process
• Time limit for response by the Governor in Council
• Past Orders in Council
• Main contact

Context

This section explains how to submit a petition to the Governor in Council in respect of decisions made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission  (CRTC) to issue, amend or renew a broadcasting licence. Provisions regarding such petitions are set out in sections 28 and 29 of the Broadcasting Act.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for advising the Governor in Council on such petitions.

The CRTC also has responsibilities with respect to petitions to the Governor in Council. It must forward a copy of each petition to all persons who were heard at or who made oral representations in connection with the CRTC hearing that was held in the matter to which the petition relates. As well, the CRTC must establish and maintain a public register in which shall be kept a copy of each petition. However, simply sending a document to the CRTC is not sufficient to bring a petition to the Governor in Council. Rather, the two-step submission process set out below must be followed.

Notes:

• “Petition to Governor in Council” is also sometimes referred to as an “appeal to Cabinet”.
• You may submit your petition by mail, courier, fax or e-mail.

Eligibility

Not all CRTC broadcasting decisions can be appealed to the Governor in Council. Under subsection 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, only a CRTC decision to issue, amend or renew a licence can be appealed to the Governor in Council.

A CRTC decision to deny a licence application cannot be appealed to the Governor in Council nor can a CRTC policy decision.

Submission deadline

Under subsection 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, a petition in writing must be received by the Governor in Council within forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of the CRTC decision. This petition, addressed to the Governor in Council, must be sent to the Office of the Clerk of the Privy Council.

Two-step submission process

Step 1

The petition must be addressed to the Governor in Council and sent to the Office of the Clerk of the Privy Council by mail, courier, fax or e-mail:

Clerk of the Privy Council
1000 - 85 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A3

Fax:

613-957-5043

E-mail:

info@pco-bcp.gc.ca

A copy should also be sent by mail, courier, fax or e-mail to:

Minister of Canadian Heritage
Eddy St, 12th floor
Gatineau QC  J8X 4B3

Fax:

819-994-1267

E-mail:

info@pch.gc.ca

Step 2

A copy of the petition must also be sent by mail, courier, fax or e-mail to:

Secretary General
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
Central Building
Floor 7 S, 766-1 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0N2

Fax:

819-994-0218

E-mail:

demandegec-gicpetition@crtc.gc.ca

Time limit for a response by the Governor in Council

The Governor in Council may by order, within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days after the date of the CRTC decision, either:

• set aside the CRTC decision; or
• refer it back to the CRTC for reconsideration and hearing.

The Governor in Council may also decline to set aside or refer back the CRTC decision.

The Governor in Council may take action in response to a petition or on the Governor in Council’s own motion.

The Governor in Council may set aside the CRTC decision or refer it back to the CRTC for reconsideration and hearing if the Governor in Council is satisfied that the decision derogates from the attainment of the objectives of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act.

Please refer to sections 28 and 29 of the Broadcasting Act for more details.

Past Orders in Council

Below, in reverse chronological order with the most recent first, are links to past Orders in Council with their SI registration numbers, made pursuant to section 28 of the Broadcasting Act since its last revision in 1991 and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II:

• Order Declining to Refer Back to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-245: SI/2023-80
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-165: SI/2022-44
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-431: SI/2020-31
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-172 –SI/2019-91
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-238: SI/2018-93
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-198 SI/2017-52
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 2017-143 to 2017-151 to Renew the Broadcasting Licences SI/2017-42
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-483 – SI/2016-2
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-617 – SI/2015-16
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2014-412 – SI/2014-97
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2013-263 – SI/2013-95
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2012-485 – SI/2012-101
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2012-308 – SI/2012-69
• Order Respecting Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-41 (Golden West Broadcasting Ltd.) – SI/2011-31
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2009-673 – SI/2010-7
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2009-318 – SI/2009-88
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2008-222 for a Broadcasting Licence by Frank Torres – SI/2008-141
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2008-222 for a Broadcasting Licence by Astral Media Radio inc. – SI/2008-140
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2008-129 to Renew Broadcasting Licences of the TQS Network and the Stations CFJP-TV Montréal, CFJP-DT Montréal, CFAP-TV Québec, CFKM-TV Trois-Rivières, CFKS-TV Sherbrooke and CFRS-TV Saguenay – SI/2008-94
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2007-246 to Issue a Broadcasting Licence to The National Broadcasting Reading Service Inc. – SI/2007-97
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2007-246 to Amend the Broadcasting Licence of Avis de recherche inc. – SI/2007-96
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 2006-323 and 2006-324 – SI/2006-129
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2006-193 – SI/2006-108
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 2005-338 and CRTC 2005-339 – SI/2005-103
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2005-248 – SI/2005-82
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 2005-246 and CRTC 2005-247 – SI/2005-81
• Order Declining to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2005-15 – SI/2005-36
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2004-538 – SI/2005-15
• Order Declining to Set Aside or Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2003-115 – SI/2003-139
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2002-377 – SI/2003-32
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2002-82 – SI/2002-104
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2002-81 – SI/2002-94
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2002-39 – SI/2002-83
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2001-757 – SI/2002-54
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2001-678 – SI/2002-41
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2001-628 – SI/2002-14
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 2001-457 and CRTC 2001-458 – SI/2001-110
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2000-219 – SI/2000-91
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2000-205 – SI/2000-87
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 2000-203 – SI/2000-86
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Decisions CRTC 99-109 to CRTC 99-112 – SI/99-95
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 99-19 – SI/99-43
• Order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC Certain Decisions – SI/98-76
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Decision CRTC 97-370 – SI/97-130
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Decision CRTC 97-362 – SI/97-126
• Order Declining to set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 97-294 – SI/97-120
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Decision CRTC 97-293 – SI/97-119
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting TELUS Cable Holdings Inc. – SI/97-88
• Order Declining to Set Aside Decision CRTC 97-137 – SI/97-69
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CFJO-FM – SI/97-51
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CFMB Limited – SI/97-50
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting a Broadcasting Licence – SI/97-25
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Various Decisions – SI/97-11
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Certain Decisions Respecting Various Undertakings – SI/96-119
  (Please note that an error occurred when this order was published in the Canada Gazette Part II. The title incorrectly indicated that it was an order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC certain decisions respecting various undertakings)
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CJFP-FM Rivière-du-Loup – SI/96-118
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting TreeHouse TV – SI/96-104
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Canadian Learning Television – SI/96-103
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Certain Decisions Respecting Various Undertakings – SI/96-101
  (Please note that errors occurred when this order was published in the Canada Gazette Part II. In the English version, the title incorrectly indicated that it was an order setting aside or referring back to the CRTC certain decisions respecting various undertakings. In the French version, the title incorrectly indicated that it was an order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC certain decisions respecting various undertakings.)
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting a Broadcasting Licence – SI/96-95
• Order Declining to Set Aside Decision CRTC 96-479 – SI/96-92
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC Certain Decisions Respecting Various Undertakings – SI/96-28
  (Please note that an error occurred when this order was published in the Canada Gazette Part II. The title incorrectly indicated that it was an order declining to set aside or to refer back to the CRTC certain decisions respecting various undertakings.)
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting SkyCable Inc. – SI/96-27
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Certain Decisions Respecting Various Undertakings – SI/96-26
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC Certain Decisions Respecting Various Undertakings – SI/96-25
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CHAM Hamilton – SI/95-120
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Various Cable Distribution Undertakings – SI/95-119
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CTEQ Télévision Inc. – SI/95-117
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Rogers Cable TV Limited, Shaw Cablesystems (B.C.) Ltd. and Shaw Cablesystems (Ontario) Ltd. – SI/95-39
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Radio Station CIWW Ottawa – SI/95-38
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting KAYU-TV (Fox) – SI/94-139
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – SI/94-112
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Premier Choix: TVEC Inc. – SI/94-111
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CHUM Limited – SI/94-110
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CHUM Limited – SI/93-199
• Order Referring Back to the CRTC the Decisions Respecting Shaw Cablesystems Ltd. and Cogeco Radio-Télévision Inc. – SI/93-190
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting CHUM Limited – SI/93-69
• Order Declining to Set Aside or to Refer Back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Shaw Cablesystems (B.C.) Ltd. – SI/92-171

Main contact

For further information on the process of submitting a petition, please contact:

Canadian Heritage 
15 Eddy St 
Gatineau QC  J8X 4B3

E-mail:

info@pch.gc.ca

Telephone:

819-997-0055

Toll-Free*:

1-866-811-0055

TTY** (Toll-Free):

1-888-997-3123

*The toll-free lines have agents available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). 
**The TTY is a telecommunication device for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired.