The Writers Guild of Canada has added its voice to calls for Canadian Heritage to ask the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to set aside or reconsider its licence renewal of CBC/Radio-Canada.

The guild issued a letter on Aug. 19 in support of the growing list of petitions against the majority decision of the CRTC to remove certain conditions of licence for CBC/Radio-Canada.

Among the changes was the shift from a requirement to work with Canadian independent producers to an “expectation.” At the time of the majority decision, the CRTC wrote that it was “unlikely” that CBC/Radio-Canada would reduce the amount of work it does with indie producers due to the high cost of in-house production.

The WGC wrote that it is “particularly concerned” about the potential to set a precedent for private broadcasters or online undertakings, the latter of which is expected to come under CRTC regulation if the Online Streaming Act receives royal assent.

“Applying such a laissez-faire approach to private entities would be disastrous for the Canadian broadcasting system and the Canadian creators, voices, stories, and audiences that it is meant to serve and support,” read the letter.

A number of associations, guilds and unions have issued letters and petitions for Canadian Heritage to send back or strike down the decision in the last month, including producers associations the CMPA and AQPM. The majority decision was also not unanimous among the CRTC, with both former vice-chair of broadcasting Caroline Simard and Ontario commissioner Monique Lafontaine sharing dissenting opinions on the licence renewal.

The Directors Guild of Canada and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists issued a joint petition earlier this month, arguing that the decision raises “issues of consistency, predictability and fairness” in the Canadian broadcasting sector.

Other industry organizations supporting the petitions include regional screen offices such as FilmOntario, Screen Nova Scotia, the Alberta Media Production Industries Association, On Screen Manitoba, and the Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association, as well as the Indigenous Screen Office, the Black Screen Office and the Documentary Organization of Canada.

CBC/Radio-Canada has previously stated it has “no comment” on the petitions. The new licence is currently expected to begin on Sept. 1 and expire Aug. 31, 2027.

Image: Shutterstock