The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

is the federal government agency which regulates and supervises all sectors of the Canadian telecommunications and broadcasting system, including AM and FM radio, traditional television broadcasting, cable, and pay and specialty services.

The CRTC was established by Parliament in 1968. It is an independent public authority constituted under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The CRTC is vested with the authority to regulate and supervise all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system, as well as to regulate telecommunications common carriers and service providers that fall under federal jurisdiction. The CRTC derives its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act. Its telecommunications regulatory powers are derived from the Telecommunications Act and the Bell Canada Act.

The CRTC grants, amends and renews broadcast licences, monitors the performance of licencees and establishes broadcasting regulation and policy. The CRTC works closely with the media industries in the development of broadcasting standards regarding violent content, gender portrayal, cultural/minority rights, advertising and programs aimed at children.

In 1995, the CRTC announced a Public Hearing on Violence in Television Programming to seek comments and suggestions, both from the industry and the general public, on approaches to the issue of television violence – particularly as it affects children.

The issues that were discussed included the development of a national classification system and possible solutions to the problem of unequal restrictions on television violence across the broadcasting system, particularly between Canadian broadcasters and foreign services distributed via cable.

For more information about the CRTC or to send a complaint or intervention, contact:
CRTC
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-0313
Fax: (819) 994-0218
Toll-free: 1-877-249-2782
Email: info@crtc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/