Weekly News (August 20, 2019)
Communications Governance Newsletter
Weekly News (August 20, 2019)
Compiled by Ian Steinberg with Sara Bannerman
McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory
Communications Governance Observatory Monthly Podcast Series
Podcast Episode 8: Platform Regulation Part 1 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)
Podcast Episode 9: Platform Regulation Part 2 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)
Canadian News (August 13-19, 2019)
- [TELECOM GOVERNANCE] Bell plans to use artificial intelligence to combat spam phone calls (Globe and Mail)
- [ELECTION COMMUNICATION] Bernier not invited to debates (Star)
- [PRIVACY] Federal parties’ privacy policies meet bare minimum required by new law (National Post)
- [BROADBAND REGULATION] Bell to downsize rural broadband program after CRTC rate cut (Star)
- [BROADBAND REGULATION] Anti-poverty group calls for cheaper internet access for low- and moderate-income Canadians (Globe and Mail)
- [SMART CITY GOVERNANCE] The stakes on the waterfront (Star)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Montrealer among LGBTQ creators suing YouTube alleging discrimination (CBC)
- [DEFAMATION] Alberta judge throws out Karlheinz Schrieber lawsuit against federal government (National Post)
- [GRAMMAR] Court deals with the case of the comma; suit dismissed and grammar plays key role (National Post)
- [PRIVACY] Opinion: Health-care scandal: $1000 just to access medical records? (Spectator)
International News (August 13-19, 2019)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION] Aussie report targets big tech’s media dominance (Star)
- [CYBERSECURITY] Huawei technicians helped African governments spy on political opponents (WSJ)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION; PRIVACY] EU nears decisions in Facebook privacy cases (WSJ)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Instagram’s changes could leave influencers heartbroken (WSJ)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE; PRIVACY] Facebook unveils long-promised tool to limit what data it receives from third-party apps and websites (Washington Post)
- [PRIVACY] U.S. Cities Rethink Data Relationship With Residents (WSJ)
- [PRIVACY] Mercedes caught up in privacy storm over car trackers (CNN)
- [NET NEUTRALITY] Wireless carrier throttling of online video is pervasive (Boston Globe)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] YouTube is hiring specialists to talk to conservative and progressive video makers (CNBC)
- [INDIGENOUS BROADBAND] Tribes across country push for better internet access (AP)
- [PRESS FREEDOM] Allies step up fight to free Saudi blogger from prison (Star)
- [PRESS FREEDOM] Allies step up fight to free Saudi blogger from prison (Star)
Press Releases and Decisions (August 13-19, 2019)
Canadian Heritage
- Supporting Innovative Joint Cultural Initiatives in Gaspésie
- The Government of Canada Supports Cultural Spaces in Nova Scotia
- Fort Saskatchewan’s Shell Theatre Receives Federal Support for Specialized Equipment
- Shining the Spotlight on Community and Creators in the GTA
- The Government of Canada Invests in Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan
- Investing in the Promotion and Preservation of Culture in Seine River First Nation
- Backgrounder – The Government of Canada Increases Support for New Brunswick Festivals, Community Celebrations and Arts Presenters, and Announces New Support for National Acadian Day Festivities
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- David Vigneault, Director CSIS: Letter to the editor of the Toronto Star
CRTC
News Releases:
- CRTC promotes competition for broadband Internet services by setting lower wholesale rates
- On the path towards a more accessible Canada with the creation of the Council of Federal Accessibility Agencies
- Telecom order 2019-295
[2019-08-19 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc. TN 1051 - Telecom decision 2019-294
[2019-08-16 11:00:00]
Sogetel inc. – Application for forbearance from the regulation of business local exchange services – Public record: 8640-S4-201901918 - Telecom order 2019-293
[2019-08-16 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc. TN 1052 - Broadcasting decision 2019-292
[2019-08-15 16:00:00]
APPROVED – 7954689 Canada Inc. – Montréal, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio station CFQR Montréal - Broadcasting decision 2019-291
[2019-08-15 16:00:00]
APPROVED – Burnt Islands Economic Development Board Inc. – Burnt Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language community radio station CHBI-FM Burnt Islands. - Broadcasting decision 2019-290
[2019-08-15 16:00:00]
APPROVED – Radio communautaire enfant-ado Gatineau-Ottawa – Gatineau, Quebec/Ottawa, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language community radio station CJEU Ottawa/Gatineau (Hull) - Broadcasting decision 2019-289
[2019-08-15 16:00:00]
APPROVED – Fabmar Communications Ltd., on behalf of Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership. – Whitecourt,Alberta – Application to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization involving the assets of the English-language commercial radio programming undertakings CIXM-FM Whitecourt, CHWK-FM Chilliwack, CJVR-FM Melfort and CKJH Melfort. - Telecom order 2019-288
[2019-08-15 16:00:00]
Follow-up to Telecom Orders 2016-396 and 2016-448 – Final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services – Public record: Bell Canada Tariff Notices 7504 and 7533; Bell MTS Tariff Notice 798; Cogeco Communications Inc. Tariff Notices 52, 52A, and 52B; Eastlink Tariff Notices 37 and 37A; MTS Inc. Tariff Notices 778, 778A, and 778B; Rogers Communications Partnership Tariff Notices 45 and 45A; Saskatchewan Telecommunications Tariff Notices 329 and 329A; Shaw Cablesystems G.P. Tariff Notices 26, 26A, and 26B; TELUS Communications Company Tariff Notice 512; and Videotron G.P. Tariff Notices 52, 52A, 55, and 55A
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- Rural communities in Ontario will benefit from faster Internet
- Government of Canada to announce high-speed Internet funding for rural communities in Ontario
Cogeco
Upcoming Events
Senate of Canada
- No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week; Senate reconvenes on September 17, 2019
Canadian House of Commons
- No fixed and possible House of Commons sitting days this week; House reconvenes on September 16, 2019
Supreme Court of Canada
OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that judgment in the following applications for leave to appeal will be delivered at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 22, 2019. This list is subject to change.
38632 | Simon Peter John Dorey v. Pamela Anne Havens
(B.C.) (Civil) (By Leave) |
Charter of Rights — Right to equality — Freedom of expression — Family law — Support —Child support — Arrears of support — Special expenses — Costs awards — Bankruptcy and Insolvency — Father objecting to imputation of income, child support, special expenses and costs orders against him — Whether lower courts failed to uphold Divorce Act and Child Support Guidelines for the benefit of children that they were entitled to be supported by both parents and not just father — Whether lower courts failed to impute income to respondent in accordance with criteria specified in Child Support Guidelines — Whether lower courts failed to uphold applicant’s parental rights to determine basic child care was more important than special expenses that were not critical to fundamental welfare of children — Whether lower courts violated fundamental right of applicant to freedom of expression by stating that because applicant agreed to some of activities that he had to pay for them. | |
38626 | Riches, McKenzie & Herbert LLP v. Cosmetic Warriors Limited
(F.C.) (Civil) (By Leave) |
Intellectual property — Trade-marks — Applicant objecting to registration of trade-mark on grounds it was not used in normal course of trade — Whether decision by Federal Court of Appeal effectively removes any requirement for profit in a transaction to support a finding of trade in normal course — Whether this opens door to abuse of monopoly granted by registration of trade-ark by allowing registrants to maintain trademark registrations through token use, and without intending to realize profit — Whether clarity in type of use which qualifies as “in the normal course” sufficient to support a monopoly under Act is issue of public and national importance |
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
CRTC
Broadcasting Decisions:
- Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various radio stations
- Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various television stations
Upcoming Public Hearings:
- September
To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-225. View hearing documents (2019-225)