CRTC removes Russian state-controlled TV network RT from authorized list

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission removed Russia Today from the list of authorized stations on Wednesday.

The broadcast regulator said in a statement that it was concerned with programming from a foreign country that seeks to undermine the sovereignty of another country, demean Canadians of a particular ethnic background and undermine democratic institutions within Canada.

The Russian state-controlled international television network, which has been authorized for distribution since 2009, was voluntarily removed by some carriers.

A public consultation was initiated by the CRTC.

Freedom of speech and a range of perspectives are important parts of our democracy. Ian Scott said that it is a privilege and not a right to be broadcast in Canada.

Television service providers, such as cable and satellite TV companies, are authorized to distribute foreign television services to Canadians, but these services are not licensed like Canadian services, the CRTC said.

The Commission determined that the continued authorization to distribute the channels is not in the public interest and that the programming is not in line with the standards.

Reports of the situation in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia and Russian individuals, and the swift steps taken by other countries to pull the services were some of the factors considered by the regulator.

The CRTC said it received 373 interventions, of which 350 were in favor of removing the Russian Broadcasting Corporation from Canadian airwaves.

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