Ontario-based broadcasting folk seeking information on telecommunications regulatory policy have significantly fewer resources to turn to now that the federal government has disbanded a provincial broadcast policy group and is closing the crtc Toronto office.

The Broadcast Policy Group, which worked through the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, was disbanded April 19. The group was made up of nine full-time staff that worked on behalf of the provincial government with telecommunications groups to draft crtc submissions and monitored workings at the federal level with an eye to Ontario’s interests.

The staff has been reassigned, and in the short term, the group’s responsibilities are being fielded through the ministry’s Information Infrastructure Branch, headed up by Joan McCalla.

John Cooper, a media communications officer with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, says the provincial government will put a new inter-ministerial committee together in the fall to cover provincial telecommunications issues.

Given that the federal regulatory climate is changing, the ministry’s role needs to be re-examined and that’s what will happen over the summer, says Cooper.

Roy O’Brien, executive director at the Ontario Cable Television Association, says that while he’s not happy the group has disbanded, a new committee made up of representatives from all the ministries the octa currently deals with individually, may be a good thing.

‘It could make processes easier than going to the Ministries of Municipal Affairs, Finance, Education, etc., one at a time.’

The Toronto office of the crtc was likewise axed mid-month and is expected to close its doors near the end of June. Peter Foster, senior regional officer; Gerald Bergin, regional director; and Lois Wyse, administrative officer, have been offered other positions.

The $4 million budget cut to the crtc’s $22.1 million federal grant is being blamed for the shutdown. Public records are accessible through the Internet, and since the Toronto office was only 18 months old, it seemed the easiest to close, says crtc secretary general Allan Darling.

Regional offices in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax remain open, although one crtc official who asked not to be identified said there is speculation that other offices are in jeopardy as the budget cuts work through the commission.