As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

The Committee therefore makes the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada reject the Rogers-Shaw proposed merger.

While the Committee believes the merger should not proceed, if it is allowed, the Committee recommends:

Recommendation 2

That, in reviewing the proposed merger, the Government of Canada take measures to ensure the preservation of local news in small and medium sized markets is made a priority.

Recommendation 3

That, while the Committee believes the merger should not proceed, if it does, the Government of Canada should ensure that, in implementing its decision, it includes conditions to ensure the continuation of local news services that would be impacted by the Rogers-Shaw merger in Kelowna, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Regina, Peterborough, Kingston, Saint John, and Halifax, and that all conditions attached to the merger approval are fully enforceable and that resources are available to enforce them.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada take steps to mitigate the impact of Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw.

More broadly, the Committee offers the following recommendations:

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada approves the application by Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations and the Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec for a Community Access Media Fund.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada requires as a condition of license that a percentage of “local expression” financing collected through Rogers and Shaw license areas should be directed to this new fund, to support not-for-profit community media organizations to fill the voids in local coverage created by Rogers’ and Shaw’s closures of their own community TV stations.

Recommendation 7

That the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications increase contributions to the Independent Local News Fund to ensure local news remains economically viable and receives sustainable and appropriate support to continue local programming and the production of Canadian content in the face of media concentration and consolidation.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada increase funding to the Local Journalism Initiative to support the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada to best ensure the creation of original, independent civic journalism.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada prioritizes in the Canada Media Fund the funding of small-market and local independent media outlets.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada support community media, ensure a diversity of news sources and guarantee access to local news and information for all Canadians.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada expand the labour tax credit to also apply to broadcast journalists engaged in local news reporting.