Opening remarks at the public hearing for new radio broadcasting licences in Grimsby/Beamsville and Georgina, Ontario

Toronto (Ontario)
November 28, 2017

Christopher MacDonald - Commissioner, Atlantic Region and Nunavut
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Check against delivery

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this public hearing.

Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we meet today on the traditional territory of the First Nations peoples. I thank them and pay respect to their Elders.

During this hearing, we will consider six applications for licences to operate new radio stations in Ontario: three to serve the Grimsby and Beamsville area, as well as three for the Georgina area. Several of these applications are competing for the use of the same frequency in the same market.

In the coming days, we will examine the applicants’ programming proposals. We will consider their commitments related to local programming and the benefits that such programming will bring to the communities, including contributions to Canadian content development.

The CRTC will also analyze the diversity of editorial voices and the impact these new licences could have on each respective market.

Procedure

I would like to make a few introductions before we begin.

• The panel for this hearing consists of:
• Linda Vennard, Regional Commissioner for Alberta and the Northwest Territories
• Caroline J. Simard, Vice-Chairperson, Broadcasting
• and myself, Christopher MacDonald, Regional Commissioner for the Atlantic Region and Nunavut. I will be presiding over this hearing.

The Commission team assisting us includes:

• Rachel Marleau, Hearing Manager
• Crystal Hulley-Craig, Legal Counsel, and
• Jade Roy, Hearing Secretary

I would now invite Ms. Roy to explain the procedure we will be following.

Madam Secretary . . .