Canada: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission opened consultation on temporary Commercial Radio News Fund (CRNF)

On 4 November 2024, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) opened a public consultation, which remained open until 4 December 2024, on the proposed establishment of a temporary Commercial Radio News Fund (CRNF) to support local news production by commercial radio stations operating outside of Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa-Gatineau. The consultation sought stakeholder input on the plan submitted by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) to administer the fund. It invited comments from radio broadcasters, online streaming services, and members of the public on regulatory matters, including fund governance and accountability, operational arrangements, and the fund’s consistency with the objectives of the Broadcasting Act, particularly in relation to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The initiative was undertaken following the CRTC’s decision on base contributions issued on 4 June 2024 and in recognition of the need for timely financial support to sustain local news in smaller Canadian markets.