The Government of Canada will be waiving some regulatory charges for broadcasters for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The decision was made after discussions between the Government of Canada, and the Canadian Radio-television and the Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Instead, the government will transfer the necessary funds to the CRTC to support its operations.

According to the federal government, the waiving of fees will provide financial relief for the broadcasting industry, and free up more than $30 million in cash.

The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that operates at arm’s length from the federal government.

In 2020-21, 107 broadcasters are expected to pay license fees to the CRTC.

“Canadian broadcasters are working hard to fulfill the mission of sharing credible and verified information with Canadians. This task is even more difficult since they also face significant drops in advertising revenue. The decision to waive the regulatory charges is one we could make quickly and we are working on more measures to support the industry. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on all sectors, ensuring we remain well-positioned to respond to this rapidly changing environment,” says the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

In addition, the government is willing to simplify the process for making a request for funding for the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Periodical Fund.

The periodical fund provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals.

The Canada Book Fund ensures Canadians get greater access to Canadian-authored books nationally and internationally.