(28 November 2017)
Undertaking empirical research about Canada’s electronic media is an exercise that, for the most part, is strongly rooted in the past: it is often easier to find accurate data about the past, than about the future. (Statistics Canada, for example, provides estimates about the future, and develop those estimates using different assumptions: see Population projections: Canada, the provinces and territories, 2013 to 2063.)
At times, however, it is difficult to locate historical documents about broadcasting and telephony.
In terms of ‘raw’ data about broadcasting and telecommunications, the Government of Canada publications website currently provides PDF copies of telecommunications and broadcasting dating to the early 1900s – to 1911 in the case of telephones, and to 1929 in the case of radio.
The CRTC has also published data about the companies it regulates. From 1968 to the early 1990s it offered basic data about broadcasting and telecommunications in its annual reports. It began to issue annual reports on broadcasting and on telecommunications in 2000 (releasing its first Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report in November 2000 at the annual convention of The Canadian Association of Broadcasters in Calgary, Alberta; the earliest of CRTC telecom reports on the federal government collections website appears to be from 2006.) The CRTC’s first ‘converged’ report, containing data about broadcasting and telecommunications, was issued in 2008.
Another useful source of data – and analysis – can be found in the reports issued by Parliament, federal departments and the CRTC about specific topics. If you are looking for data, analysis and research related to Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications, the 107 reports that we located (which include a few reports on copyright and film) are set out below:
| Year | Subject | Report |
| 1928 | Broadcasting | Minister of Marine and Fisheries (15 November 1928): Report |
| 1929 | Broadcasting | Royal Commission on Radio Broadcasting, Report (Ottawa, 1929), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/bcp-pco/CP32-104-1929-eng.pdf |
| 1938 | Broadcasting | Select Standing Committee to review the policies of the CBC |
| 1951 | Broadcasting | Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, Special Committee on Radio Broadcasting, https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/massey/h5-400-e.html |
| 1957 | Broadcasting | Royal Commission on Broadcasting, Report (Ottawa, 15 March 1957), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/Z1-1955-37-1-eng.pdf [Fowler Report] |
| 1960 | Broadcasting | Glassco: Royal Commission on Government Organization |
| 1960 | Broadcasting | Board of Broadcast Governors, Royal Commission on Activities of Station CHEK-TV, Victoria, B.C.: Report, Report in response to OIC 1960-1211 (8 September 1960), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/Z1-1960-eng.pdf |
| 1965 | Broadcasting | Fowler: Advisory Committee on Broadcasting |
| 1966 | Broadcasting | White Paper on Broadcasting – formed the basis of the 1968 Broadcasting Act |
| 1970 | Broadcasting | Special Senate Committee on Mass Media, Report [Davey committee] |
| 1971 | Broadcasting | Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Arctic co-operative radio broadcasts, (Ottawa, 1971) http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/aanc-inac/R74-35-1971-eng.pdf |
| 1973 | Broadcasting | In March, 1973 the federal government issued a Green Paper titled, Proposals for a Communications Policy for Canada |
| 1979 | Telecommunications | Clyne committee Report of the Consultative Committee on the Implications of Telecommunications for Canadian Sovereignty |
| 1981 | Broadcasting | Kent: Royal Commission on Newspapers |
| 1982 | Broadcasting | Applebaum-Hebert: Federal Cultural Policy Review Committee |
| 1983 | Broadcasting | Department of Communications, “Towards a New National Broadcasting Policy” |
| 1983 | Broadcasting | Department of Communications, “Building for the Future: Towards a Distinctive CBC” |
| 1984 | Telecommunications | Department of Communications, From Gutenberg to Telidon, (Ottawa, 1984) |
| 1985 | Broadcasting | Neilsen report: Federal Task Force on Program Review published its recommendations on culture and communications |
| 1985 | Film | Film Industry Task Force, Canadian Cinema – A Solid Base: Report, (Ottawa, 1985) [Raymond-Roth] |
| 1986 | Broadcasting | Task Force on Broadcasting Policy, Report, (Ottawa, 1986) [Caplan-Sauvageau] |
| 1986 | Broadcasting | Federal-Provincial Committee on the Future of French-Language Television issued its report |
| 1986 | Film | Task Force on the Non-Theatrical Film Industry, Report, (Ottawa, 1986) [Jensen-Macerola] |
| 1987 | Broadcasting | House of Commons Standing Committee on Communications and Culture: Sixth Report |
| 1987 | Broadcasting | Department of Communications, Communications for the Twenty-First Century: Media and Messages in the Information Age (Ottawa, 1987) |
| 1991 | Broadcasting | Girard-Peters Task Force: Report on the Economic Status of Television |
| 1991 | Broadcasting | Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing, Reforming Electoral Democracy, Vol 1 (Ottawa, Minister of Supply and Services Canada: 1991), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/Z1-1989-2-1-1991-1-eng.pdf |
| 1991 | Telecommunications | Marion G. Wrobel, Library of Parliament, Telecommunications: the demise of natural monopoly and its implications for regulation, Backgrounder (Ottawa, 1991) |
| 1992 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Communications and Culture, The Ties that Bind, (Ottawa, 1992) |
| 1992 | Broadcasting | Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing, Reforming Electoral Democracy, Vol. 1 http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/Z1-1989-2-1-1991-1-eng.pdf |
| 1992 | Broadcasting | Industry Canada. Communications for the Twenty-First Century: Media and Messages in the Information Age. Ottawa, 1992. |
| 1992 | Telecommunications | Communications Canada, A spectrum policy framework for Canada (Ottawa, 1992) |
| 1992 | Telecommunications | Communications Canada, Telecommunications in Canada: an overview of the carriage industry, (Ottawa, 1992) |
| 1992 | Telecommunications | Communications Canada, Telecommunications privacy principles, (Ottawa, 1992) |
| 1993 | Broadcasting | Task Force on the Introduction of Digital Radio, Communications Canada, Digital radio, the sound of the future: the Canadian vision, (Ottawa, 1993) |
| 1993 | Broadcasting | Federal working group to “review the CBC’s funding situation” |
| 1994 | Broadcasting | Parliamentary Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage: “role of the [CBC] .. potential sources of new revenues” |
| 1994 | Telecommunications | Communications Development and Planning Branch, Industry Canada, Privacy and the Canadian information highway: building Canada’s information and communications infrastructure, (Ottawa, 1994) |
| 1995 | Broadcasting | Working Group on Canadian Programming and Private Television: Report on the Future of Canadian Programming and the Role of Private Television: Keeping Canada on the Information Highway. |
| 1995 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, The Future of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the Multi-Channel Universe |
| 1995 | Convergence | CRTC, Competition and culture on Canada’s information highway: managing the realities of transition, (Ottawa, 19 May 1995), |
| 1995 | Convergence | Information Highway Advisory Council, Connection, Community, Content: The Challenge of the Information Highway, (Ottawa, 27 September 1995) |
| 1995 | Convergence | Government of Canada, Building the Information Society: Moving Canada into the 21st Century. |
| 1995 | Convergence | CRTC, Competition and Culture on Canada’s Information Highway: Managing the Realities of Transition, (Ottawa, 19 May 1995), in accordance with Order in Council P.C. 1994-1689 (11 October 1994) |
| 1996 | Broadcasting | Tom Gorman, Services, Science and Technology Division, Statistics Canada, Television: Glorious Past, Uncertain Future, 63F0002XPZB No. 6 (Ottawa, January 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/Statcan/63F0002XIE/63F0002XIB1995006.pdf |
| 1996 | Broadcasting | Task Force on the Future of the Canadian Music Industry, A Time for action: report, (Ottawa, 1996) |
| 1996 | Broadcasting | Mandate Review Committee of the CBC, NFB and Telefilm Canada, Making Our Voices Heard, Report (Ottawa, 1996) [ Juneau Committee’ |
| 1996 | Convergence | Industry Canada, Convergence Policy Statement, Policy (Ottawa, 1996), https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf05265.html |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Privacy issues in telecommunications, Current issue reviews (Ottawa, 1993, revised January 1996) |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Telecommunications and Canadian industrial policy, (Ottawa, 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/lop-bdp/bp/bp430-e.pdf |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Library of Parliament, Parliamentary Research Branch, Economics Division, THE DEREGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION (Ottawa, November 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/lop-bdp/bp/bp432-e.pdf |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Library of Parliament, Parliamentary Research Branch, Economics Division, THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY: THE CONVERGENCE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION AND MICROPROCESSING, (Ottawa, June 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/lop-bdp/bp/bp420-e.pdf |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Library of Parliament, Parliamentary Research Branch, Economics Division, The information revolution and international telecommunications, (Ottawa, July 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP-e/bp421-e.pdf |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Human Resources Canada, Human resources study of the Canadian telecommunications industry: detailed report, (Ottawa, 1996) |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Peter Howitt, Industry Canada, Implications of knowledge-based growth for micro-economic policies, cat. Id53-11/6-1996E (Ottawa, 1996) |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Library of Parliament, Parliamentary Research Branch, Economics Division, Telecommunication services and pricing: from monopoly to competition, (Ottawa, 1995, revised September 1996) |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Élisabeth Lefebvre & Louis A. Lefebvre, Information and telecommunication technologies: the impact of their adoption on small and medium-sized enterprises, (Ottawa, September 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/crdi-idrc/E97-48-1996-eng.pdf |
| 1996 | Telecommunications | Daniel J. Shaw, Library of Parliament, Parliamentary Research Branch, Economics Division, CANADIAN COMPETITIVENESS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION, (Ottawa, November 1996), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/lop-bdp/bp/bp427-e.pdf |
| 1998 | Broadcasting | CRTC, ADDITIONAL NATIONAL TELEVISION NETWORKS – A REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PURSUANT TO ORDER IN COUNCIL P.C. 1997-592, Public Notice CRTC 1998-8 (Ottawa, 6 February 1998), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1998/PB98-8.HTM |
| 1999 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, A Sense of Place, A Sense of Being: The evolving role of the Federal government in support of culture in Canada, Ninth Report (Ottawa, June 1999), http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/36-1/CHER/report-9/ |
| 1999 | Broadcasting | The Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade, New Strategies for Culture and Trade Canadian Culture in a Global World, (February 1999), http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/ip-pi/canculture.aspx?lang=en |
| 1999 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Report on the establishment of a national French-language arts television service, Public Notice CRTC 1999-187 (Ottawa, 19 November 1999), in response to Order in Council P.C. 1999-1454, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1999/PB99-187.HTM |
| 1999 | Film | Canadian Heritage, The Road to Feature Film Success: Report of the Feature Film Advisory Committee, (Ottawa, 1999) |
| 2000 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Report to the Governor in Council on measures to ensure that the residents of the Greater Toronto Area receive a range of radio services reflective of the diversity of their languages and cultures, Public Notice CRTC 2001-10 (Ottawa, 31 January 2001), Order In Council P.C. 1464 (Ottawa, 13 September 2000), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2001/PB2001-10.htm |
| 2000 | Film | Canadian Heritage, From Script to Screen: New Policy Directors for Canadian Feature Film, (Ottawa, 2000), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH44-11-2000E.pdf |
| 2000 | Telecommunications | CRTC, State of Competition in Canadian telecommunications markets, Order in Coouncil P.C. 2000-1053 (Ottawa, 26 June 2000), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2005/pt2005-15.pdf |
| 2001 | Broadcasting | Federal government announces the Tomorrow Starts Today cultural policy, to foster arts and culture, maximize Canadians’ access to arts and culture, and develop partnerships |
| 2001 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Achieving a better balance: Report on French-language broadcasting services in a minority environment, Report in response to Order in Council PC 2000-511, (Ottawa, 12 February 2001), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2001/PB2001-25.htm |
| 2001 | Copyright | A Framework for Copyright Reform, (Ottawa, 2001) |
| 2001 | Copyright | Intellectual Property Policy Directorate, Industry Canada, Consultation Paper on the Application of the Copyright Act’s Compulsory Retransmission Licence to the Internet, (Ottawa, 2001), |
| 2001 | Copyright | Consultation Paper on Digital Copyright Issues, (Ottawa, 2001) |
| 2001 | Telecommunications | National Broadband Task Force, The New National Dream: Networking the Nation for Broadband Access, (Ottawa, 2001), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/C2-574-2001E.pdf |
| 2002 | Broadcasting | Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Content for the 21st Century, Discussion Paper (Ottawa, March 2002), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH44-29-2002E.pdf |
| 2002 | Broadcasting | Department of Canadian Heritage, From Creators to Audience: New Policy Directions for Canadian Sound Recording, (Ottawa, 2002), Policy, http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH44-31-2002E.pdf |
| 2003 | Broadcasting | Canadian Heritage, Northern Native Broadcast Access Program (NNBAP) & Northern Distribution Program (NDP) Evaluation: Final Report (25 June 2003), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH44-90-2003E.pdf |
| 2003 | Broadcasting | Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Content in the 21st Century in Film and Television Productions: A Matter of Cultural Identity (Ottawa, 2003) [Macerola Report] |
| 2003 | Broadcasting | Lincoln report: Our Cultural Sovereignty: The Second Century of Canadian Broadcasting, Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, (Ottawa, 11 June 2003) http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH44-48-2005E.pdf |
| 2003 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Internet retransmission, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-2 (Ottawa, 17 January 2003), in response to Order in Council P.C. 2002-1043 (12 June 2002), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2003/pb2003-2.htm |
| 2003 | Telecommunications | Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Opening Canadian Communications to the World, Report, (Ottawa, April 2003), https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/37-2/INST/report-3/. |
| 2005 | Film | Canadian Heritage, Corporate Review Branch, Evaluation Services, Summative Evaluation of the Canadian Feature Film Policy, (Ottawa, September 2005) |
| 2005 | Film | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Scripts, Screens and Audiences: A New Feature Film Policy for the 21st Century, Report (Ottawa, November 2005), http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/38-1/CHPC/report-19/ |
| 2006 | Broadcasting | Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, Final Report on the Canadian News Media (2 volumes) |
| 2006 | Broadcasting | CRTC, The Future Environment Facing the Canadian Broadcasting System: a report prepared pursuant to section 15 of the Broadcasting Act (Ottawa, 14 December 2006), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/BC92-60-2006E.pdf |
| 2006 | Broadcasting | CRTC, THE FUTURE ENVIRONMENT FACING THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING SYSTEM, (Ottawa, 14 December 2006), Order in Council P.C. 2006-519 (Ottawa, 8 June 2006), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/BC92-60-2006E.pdf |
| 2006 | Telecommunications | House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Sixth Report, (Ottawa, 30 March 2007), 39th Parl, 1st Sess, https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/39-1/INDU/report-6/: |
| 2006 | Telecommunications | March 22, 2006: Telecommunications Policy Review Panel, Final Report, (Ottawa, March 2006), https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/tprp-final-report-2006.pdf/$FILE/tprp-final-report-2006.pdf |
| 2007 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, The Funding Crisis of the Canadian Television Fund: Report, (Ottawa, March 2007), 39th Parl., 1st Sess., http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/39-1/CHPC/report-17/ |
| 2007 | Broadcasting | L. Dunbar & C. Leblanc, REVIEW OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR BROADCASTING SERVICES IN CANADA (Ottawa, 31 August 2007), http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/crtc/BC92-62-2007E.pdf |
| 2007 | Telecommunications | Department of Industry, Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada, Gzette Notice No. DGTP-001-07 (Ottawa, June 2007), http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08776.html |
| 2008 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, CB/Radio-Canada: Defining Distinctiveness in the Changing Media Landscape: Report, (Ottawa, February 2008) 39th Parl., 2nd Sess., http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/39-2/CHPC/report-6/ |
| 2008 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Perspectives on Canadian Broadcasting in New Media a compilation of research and stakeholder views (Ottawa, May 2008) Revised June 2008, http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/crtc/BC92-65-2008E.pdf |
| 2008 | Telecommunications | Competition Policy Review Panel, Compete to Win: Final Report, (Ottawa, June 2008), https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cprp-gepmc.nsf/eng/h_00040.html |
| 2009 | Broadcasting | CRTC, Report to the Governor in Council on English- and French-language broadcasting services in English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada, (Ottawa, 3 March 2009), Order in Council P.C. 2008-1293 (Ottawa, 19 June 2008), |
| 2010 | Broadcasting | CRTC, The implications and advisability of implementing a compensation regime for the value of local television signals, (Ottawa, 23 March 2010), Order in Council P.C. 2009-1569 (Ottawa, 16 September 2009), http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp100323.htm |
| 2010 | Telecommunications | Convergence Policy, Policy Development and Research, CRTC, Navigating Convergence: Charting Canadian Communications Change and Regulatory Implications, (Ottawa, February 2010), https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp1002.htm |
| 2010 | Telecommunications | Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology CANADA’S FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR, (Ottawa, JUNE 2010) https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/INDU/report-5/, 40th Parl., 3rd Sess. |
| 2011 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Impacts of Private Television Ownership Changes and the Move Towards New Viewing Platforms: Report, (Ottawa, March 2011) 40th Parl. 3rd Sess., https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/CHPC/report-9/ |
| 2011 | Convergence | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Emerging and Digital Media: Opportunities and Challenges, Report (Ottawa, February 2011), 40th Parl. 3rd Sess., http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/CHPC/report-7/ |
| 2011 | Telecommunications | CRTC, Navigating Convergence II: Charting Canadian Communications Change and Regulatory Implications, (Ottawa, 2011), http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.694893/publication.html |
| 2012 | Telecommunications | Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, E-COMMERCE IN CANADA: PURSUING THE PROMISE, (Ottawa, May 2012) 41st Parl., 1st Sess., https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/41-1/INDU/report-1/page-5 |
| 2014 | Broadcasting | Michael Dewing, legal and Social Affairs Division, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Canadian Broadcasting Policy, Pub. No. 2011-9-E (Ottawa, 23 June 2011), revised 6 Aug 2014, http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/bdp-lop/bp/2011-39-2-eng.pdf |
| 2014 | Film | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Review of the Feature Film Industry in Canada: Report, (Ottawa, June 2014), 41sst Parl., 2nd Sess., http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/41-2/CHPC/report-14/ |
| 2015 | Broadcasting | Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, Time for change: the CBC/Radio-Canada in the twenty-first century, Report, (Ottawa, 2015), http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.802332/publication.html |
| 2015 | Film | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Review of the Feature Film Industry in Canada: Report, (Ottawa, June 2015), 41st Parl., 2nd Sess., http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/parl/xc61-1/XC61-1-1-412-14-eng.pdf. |
| 2016 | Broadcasting | House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, INTERIM REPORT ON MEDIA STUDY: The Impact of Digital Technology, Report 3, Presented to the House: December 8, 2016 |
| 2017 | Broadcasting | Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Disruption: Change and churning in Canada’s media landscape (Ottawa, 15 June 2017), http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/CHPC/report-6/ |
| 2017 | Broadcasting | Department of Canadian Heritage, Creative Canada Policy Framework, (Ottawa, 28 September 2017), https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/creative-canada/framework.html |