In June 2018, to ensure that Canadians continue to benefit from an open and innovative Internet, the Government of Canada appointed an external Panel to review Canada's communication legislative framework. The review examined issues such as telecommunications and content creation in the digital age, net neutrality and cultural diversity, and how to strengthen the future of Canadian media and Canadian content creation.
Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act
On January 29, 2020, the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel presented their final report, Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act, to Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and to Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Those wishing to obtain copies of research papers commissioned during the course of the Panel's work should contact ISED as directed here.
Panel
The Panel was composed of members reflecting a diversity of expertise and perspectives and a balance of sectors, language and gender. They were tasked to study the Broadcasting Act, the Telecommunications Act and the Radiocommunication Act and to make recommendations to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage. During the course of this work, the Panel consulted industry, creators and Canadians, including those from Indigenous and official-language minority communities.
A call for comments
The consultation period for written submissions closed on January 11th, 2019 This was the extended deadline the Panel set after accommodating requests for more time to prepare submissions.
The Panel members extended their sincere appreciation to the 2,000 interested parties who took the time and dedicated the effort to prepare submissions.
What We Heard Report
The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel's What We Heard Report summarizes the key themes that emerged through an open call for written submissions.
After being appointed in June 2018, the Panel undertook an outreach and engagement process to hear what Canadians had to say and to gain the benefit of their insights to help modernize Canada's broadcasting and telecommunications legislative framework.
Panel members criss-crossed the country, meeting with interested parties and hearing from a diverse cross-section of voices. They extended their sincere thanks to all Canadians who took the time to contribute their expertise and thoughts during this consultation process.
The perspectives and recommendations provided helped inform and strengthen the Panel's work, while it completed its final report with recommendations by January 2020.
Videos
Learn more about broadcasting and telecommunications legislation in Canada by watching our videos.
The Broadcasting Act: Structure and Background
An Overview of the Telecommunications Act
Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada
