Consultations on diversity and inclusion in the broadcasting industry
The CRTC will be holding a series of consultations with Canadians and Indigenous peoples to ensure their experiences are reflected in Canada’s broadcasting system and to foster access to diverse voices and perspectives. This initiative is part of the changes needed to implement the modernized Broadcasting Act.
Separately, the CRTC will be addressing the specific needs of Indigenous peoples through the Co-Development of the Indigenous Broadcasting Policy, as well as French-language programming through the decision on Contributions to support Canadian and Indigenous content.
Key objectives of the Broadcasting Act
Canada’s broadcasting system should serve to safeguard, enrich, and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada. This includes supporting French-language programming, enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities, supporting Indigenous cultures and languages, and reflecting Canada’s diversity. It also means improving the representation of people:
- from diverse racialized communities;
- from various ethnocultural backgrounds;
- of different ages;
- with different abilities and disabilities; and
- with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
The Canadian broadcasting system should also:
- provide opportunities for Indigenous persons to produce programming and become broadcasters;
- create programming that reflects Indigenous cultures and languages;
- eliminate barriers in programming for people with disabilities; and
- serve the needs and interest of all Canadians including Canadians from racialized communities and of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds.
Our plan
The views of Canadians are critical to every step of the process, and we invite all interested parties to participate.
Step 1: Gather input from stakeholders
Status: Completed
Step 2: Engage with communities
Status: Completed
Step 3: Draft framework and consult
Status: planned for 2027
Step 1: Gather input from stakeholders
Status: Completed
As a starting point, we contacted traditional broadcasters, industry and online streaming services to learn more about:
- How broadcasters include diverse voices and perspectives into their content-creation decisions;
- How broadcasters measure the effectiveness of their existing diversity policies;
- How to address issues such as cultural appropriation, stereotypes and misrepresentation in media content.
We gained a better understanding of how broadcasters ensure that their content reflects Canada’s diversity. This information was used to create background documents to support the discussions with different communities (Step 2).
Step 2: Engage with communities
Status: Completed
We held a series of virtual discussions with equity-deserving individuals and communities, stakeholders and advocacy groups. During these discussions, participants provided input and answered questions such as:
- What are the barriers to achieving greater diversity in both online and traditional broadcasting systems?
- Where are there opportunities to accomplish this?
- What real measures can we put in place to support diversity and inclusion within the broadcast system?
- What can be done to address issues such as cultural appropriation, stereotypes and misrepresentation in media content?
The virtual discussions were held from January 20 to January 24, 2025.
Step 3: Draft framework and consult
Status: planned for mid to late 2027
We will review the input and combine the information gathered from industry representatives in step 1 and from the participants in step 2. We will also take into account the diversity-related initiatives developed through other recent proceedings part of the CRTC plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework, ensuring that any diversity and inclusion overarching objectives required under the Broadcasting Act are addressed. We will then draft a framework and seek feedback by consulting further with stakeholders and communities in Canada.
Related links
Modernize Canada’s overall broadcasting framework: Learn how we are modernizing Canada’s broadcasting framework and ensuring that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.
Offering cultural diversity on TV and radio: Learn how we promote diversity and inclusion in broadcasting. Find links to relevant legislation, policies and codes such as the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Equitable Portrayal Code.
Review annual reports filed by licensees: Discover broadcasters’ annual reports and plans for their diversity initiatives.
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