CRTC chief calls for power to issue fines for broadcast offences

The head of Canada's broadcast regulator called this week for increased enforcement power for the CRTC that would allow it to fine broadcasters who break content rules.

Konrad von Finckenstein's comments came during an appearance before the standing committee on Canadian Heritage, which is examining a private member's bill proposing to amend the Broadcasting Act.

Bloc Qubcois MP Bernard Bigras introduced Bill C-327, which calls on the CRTC to draft, monitor and enforce rules about television violence.

Von Finckenstein, chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, addressed the committee in Ottawa on Tuesday.

He argued that the existing system, "based on industry self-regulation in adherence to obligatory codes, and backed up by the CRTC as the final arbiter, does provide an effective means to achieve the desired purpose" of controlling the amount of violence on Canadian television.

This sentiment was echoed by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council when it appeared before the committee on Thursday.

However, von Finckenstein also took his appearance before the committee as an opportunity to address in general the CRTC's ability to enforce policies governing content.

He called for the CRTC to be given the power to impose fines on broadcasters for infractions something its U.S. counterpart, the Federal Communications Commission, does regularly.

"The fines would be proportionate to the offence. They would be large enough to hurt and to serve as a deterrent," he said on Tuesday.

Currently, the penalties the CRTC can impose are "relatively light or excessively heavy," he added.

On the "light end," the punishment is ordering the broadcaster to produce an on-air announcement denoting its offence or the commission itself issuing a public decision in response to the original complaint.

On the "heavy end," the offending broadcaster's licence could be shortened or even denied for renewal by the CRTC.

"These are very blunt instruments," von Finckenstein said. "They also have the disadvantage that they may be applied years after the violations have occurred."

The discussion of thetelevision violence bill comes amid a heated debate over another culture-related bill.

Bill C-10, passed in the House of Commons in October, proposes changes to Canada's Income Tax Act and includes an amendment to allow the Canadian Heritage department to withhold tax credits to film ortelevision productions it deems "contrary to public policy."

The bill's third reading in the Senate has been delayed after vociferous criticism, largely from Canada's television and film industry.