Weekly News (Oct. 10th-15th)

Communications Governance in the News

Compiled by Charnjot Shokar

Research Assistant, Networked Communications Governance Lab

M.A. Candidate, Communication and New Media, McMaster University

Canadian News: Oct. 2-8

• [PRIVACY] Ottawa passes legislation to protect journalists’ anonymous sources from police (Globe and Mail)
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Residential school records to be destroyed (Winnipeg Free Press)
• [PRIVACY] Into the Breach: How Canada’s Security Breach Disclosure Regulations Fall Short (Michael Geist)
• [CULTURAL FUNDING] Netflix deal receives rough reception among Canadian cultural leaders (Globe and Mail)
• [CULTURAL FUNDING] Why is Melanie Joly ignoring the crisis in Canadian journalism?(The Conversation / Sara Bannerman)

International News: Oct. 2-8

• [FCC] Balloons to help restore Puerto Rico’s cell networks (Agence France Press)
• [PRIVACY] European court asked to rule on Facebook data transfers (Financial Post)
• [PRIVACY] Russian hackers stole American cyber secrets from NSA, Wall Street Journal reports (CBC News
• [PRIVACY] Turnbull denies new facial recognition measures amount to ‘mass surveillance’ (Guardian)
• [DEFAMATION] Case registered for fake messages against Salaria (Times of India)
• [PRIVACY] This surveillance law needs reauthorizing – and tightening, too (Washington Post)

Press Releases and Decisions: Oct. 2-8

Supreme Court of Canada

• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Canada (Attorney General) v. Fontaine– 2017 SCC 47 – 2017-10-06 Supreme Court Judgments Civil procedure – Class actions – Courts – Jurisdiction – Inherent jurisdiction – Implied undertaking – Interpretation of settlement agreement – Privacy – Access to information – Exemptions – Third party information – Personal information – The appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Numbers C59310, C59311 and C59320, 2016 ONCA 241, dated April 4, 2016, heard on May 25, 2017, is dismissed with costs to the Independent Counsel. Reasons for judgement.

Federal Court of Appeal

• [PATENT] Apotex Inc. v. Pfizer Inc.: This is an appeal of the decision of Diner J. of the Federal Court dismissing Apotex Inc.’s (Apotex) motion for partial summary judgment. Apotex contended that the respondents’ failure to pay the proper application fee for the issuance of Canadian Patent No. 1,339,132 (the 132 Patent) invalidated the patent. The Federal Court disagreed: 2016 FC 136, [2017] 1 F.C.R. 3. Apotex appeals.

CRTC Decisions

• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-356: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Sudbury and Timmins, Ontario – APPROVED – Application to change the authorized contours of the rebroadcasting transmitter CBON-FM-25 Timmins
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-355: THEMA Canada Inc. – Across Canada – APPROVED – Application to add Canal+ International, a non-Canadian French-language service, to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-354: CFPV-FM Radio Ltd. – Pemberton, British Columbia – APPROVED – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio station CFPV-FM Pemberton
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-351: International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc. – Halifax and Wolfville, Nova Scotia – APPROVED – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language specialty (Christian music) radio station CJLU-FM Halifax and its transmitter CJLU-FM-1 Wolfville
• [TELECOM] Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-259-1: Call for comments – Reconsideration of Telecom Decision 2017-56 regarding final terms and conditions for wholesale mobile wireless roaming service – New deadline for second phase of interventions: 27 October 2017 – New deadline for further comments on second phase of interventions: 3 November 2017 – Revised deadline for final submissions: 1 December 2017 – File number: 1011-NOC2017-0259
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-357: TELUS Communications Company – Revision to Interexchange channel rental service – File numbers: Tariff Notices 628 and 628A
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-353: Streamlined Order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff applications: Northwestel Inc., TNs 998 and 999
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-352: Streamlined Order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Independent Telecommunications Providers Association, TN 116
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-350: Streamlined Order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the proposed tariff pages filed in the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc. TN 1000
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-349: Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff applications: Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership TN 511; TELUS Communications Company TN 528 (TCC) and TN 630 (TCQ)

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada

• [TELECOM] Helping shape Canada’s digital future: Government consultation focuses on creating better cell phone service and value for the middle class
• [TELECOM] Expanding Broadband Infrastructure in Remote Northern Ontario: Joint investment to bring high speed internet access to Matawa First Nations in the Ring of Fire Region
• [TELECOM] Investments in Modernizing Telecom Services for Federal Organizations: Following a collaborative and competitive procurement process, Shared Services Canada has awarded a seven-year, $176M contract to TELUS to provide the Government of Canada with modern, network-based communications services
• [BROADBAND POLICY] Consultation on the Spectrum Outlook 2018 to 2022

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• [PRIVACY] OPC posts new summaries of cases involving businesses

Upcoming Events: Oct. 9-15

CRTC

• Anticipated releases for the week of 10 to 13 October, 2017
  • Broadcasting Decisions
    • Application by Avenue Radio Ltd.for authority to acquire the assets of the English-language commercial radio station CJUI-FM Kelowna from Vista Radio Ltd.
    • Application by Cochrane Christian Radioto renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language low‑powercommercial specialty (Christian music) radio station CFCJ‑FM Cochrane
  • [BROADCASTING] Gatineau, Quebec – Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-160: Renewal of the broadcasting licenses for terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings that will expire in May 2018: Oct. 16, 2017