Order to Remit Part I License Fees Paid or Payable by all Broadcasting Licensees: SI/2020-37

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 154, Number 12

Registration

SI/2020-37 June 10, 2020

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION ACT

Order to Remit Part I License Fees Paid or Payable by all Broadcasting Licensees

P.C. 2020-338 May 18, 2020

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering that it is in the public interest to do so, on the recommendation of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Treasury Board, pursuant to subsection 23(2.1) footnote a of the Financial Administration Act footnote b, remits the Part I licence fees paid or payable by all licensees under paragraph 3(a) of the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations, 1997 footnote c, in respect of the fiscal year 2020–2021.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

Considering that it is in the public interest to do so, that Her Excellency the Governor General in Council remits the Part I licence fees paid or payable by all licensees under paragraph 3(a) of the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations, 1997 in respect of the 2020–2021 fiscal year.

Objective

To permit broadcasting licensees to retain licence fees payable in the 2020–2021 fiscal year so that they are better positioned to deal with the COVID-19 emergency.

Background

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an administrative tribunal that operates at arm’s length from the federal government. In 2020–2021, pursuant to the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations, 1997, 107 broadcasters are expected to pay licence fees totalling $32,340,337 to the CRTC.

The Government recognizes that Canadian broadcasters have been working around the clock to deliver news and information programming about COVID-19 while facing operational challenges and significant declines in advertising revenue.

On March 30, 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage (the Minister) announced that, after discussions with the Government of Canada, the CRTC will not issue letters requesting for payment of Part I broadcasting license fees in respect of the 2020–2021 fiscal year. The Minister also announced that the Government will transfer necessary funds to the CRTC to support its operations.

Implications

The Order to remit Part I licence fees provides broadcasting licensees with financial relief to better adjust to the drastic reductions of advertising revenues as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Consultation

No public consultations were conducted given the urgent and relieving nature of the Remission Order.

Contact

Guy Desjardins
Director General
Finance and Administrative Services
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Telephone: 613‑697‑4825 or 819‑994‑0108
Email: guy.desjardins@crtc.gc.ca