TORONTO, ON (September 22, 2022) – ACTRA applauds Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and the Government of Canada for listening to Canadian creators and referring back the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio Canada licence renewal decision (CRTC 2022-165) to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for reconsideration, via the following Order in Council.
“Thank you to the Government for standing up for Canadian performers, writers, directors, composers, producers and other creators by referring back this decision for reconsideration,” said ACTRA National President Eleanor Noble. “The health of our domestic audiovisual production sector can be attributed to the rules the CRTC has historically put in place to prioritize the creation of Canadian stories by and for Canadians. We are pleased the Government understood our concerns and has taken this important step to protect Canadian content.”
ACTRA and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) filed a joint petition to the Governor in Council in August 2022 with respect to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-165. ACTRA and the DGC were among the many organizations (including 16 written petitions) concerned with the potentially long-term consequences of the 2022 CBC licence renewal decision on Canadian programming and the future livelihood of the creative and independent production community.
“The decision in its current form undermines both the mandate of the CBC and the Canadian broadcasting policy as set out in the Broadcasting Act,” added Noble. “Every step must continue to be taken to ensure long-standing policy principles and protections are in place to secure high levels of Canadian programming.”
About ACTRA:
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 28,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.
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Media Contact:
Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA National, tel: 416-644-1519, email: ctaverner@actra.ca