Commission admits to factual error in CIPF decision

The CRTC has admitted it made an error in a recent decision by attributing an argument made by Rogers Communication Inc.’s group of funds to the Canada Media Fund (CMF). In a press release Thursday, the Writers’ Guild of Canada (WGC) said that in the decision, the CRTC referred to arguments made by the CMF in favour of loosening the requirements necessary for a production to qualify for funding from the Canadian Independent Production Funds (CIPFs). Those arguments were actually made by the Rogers Group of Funds. The CRTC changed its decision to reflect that Thursday. In its release, WCG said that the “CMF is a well-established and respected funding body, whose views on the subject would presumably carry significant weight in a proceeding such as this. This makes the misattribution particularly concerning, and the WGC believes the error calls into question the rigour of this CRTC process.” The organization declined further comment Thursday. The CRTC’s decision to lower the requirement governing how many Canadians must work on a production for it to get funding drew opposition from groups including the WGC and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). Elliott Anderson, ACTRA’s director of public policy, research and communications, said in an emailed statement Thursday that the CRTC should reverse its decision and “have a genuinely open process that includes public hearings.” “This is the latest in a series of concerning actions from the CRTC. First, we see the Commission enact sweeping changes to production funds without public hearings. Then, we learn that the decision got some key facts wrong. Now, we see that when they were caught on these errors they quietly re-wrote the decision instead of issuing a correction,” Anderson said. “It’s no wonder so many Canadians are asking serious questions about the way the CRTC makes decisions.” Anderson’s comments followed a public exchange between ACTRA and CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais following the CIPF decision. In a Wednesday letter, Blais defended the policy and said ACTRA had a chance to comment during the consultation process and should have taken that opportunity. “As such, this Commission’s decision was taken following an open and accessible public consultation process during which your organisation did not participate,” he said. In a response Thursday, ACTRA national president Ferne Downey said that ACTRA didn’t participate because it was in negotiations over its collective agreement at the time, but that other organizations did and their “cogent arguments and evidence” weren’t considered by the CRTC. “Long before your appointment as Commission Chair by the Harper government, ACTRA members were working to shape regulation that will build our industry. Production funds were created because Canadians want uniquely Canadian stories. The evidence shows that these programs are successful both here and abroad,” Downey said. She added that the lack of public hearings on the question “left many Canadians feeling excluded from the process.” Also on Thursday, the office of Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly responded to a request for comment on the decision. Spokesman Pierre-Olivier Herbert sent an emailed statement that Canadian content creators are “a vital part of our economy.” “We know that our creators are facing new challenges and opportunities in the digital era which is why our government is currently examining how to better support the creation of Canadian content through our ‘Canadian content in a digital world’ consultation,” the statement said, in reference to a sweeping review announced earlier this year. “The CRTC is responsible for its day to day operations and policy decisions and we respect its independence.” — With reporting by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca and editing by Charelle Evelyn at cevelyn@thewirereport.ca

Commission admits to factual error in CIPF decision

News | September 1, 2016

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Commission admits to factual error in CIPF decision

News | September 1, 2016

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