Mandate local radio service
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to require licensed broadcasters—via legislation and CRTC oversight—to keep local radio news services operating in affected markets, mandate minimum local programming and emergency coverage, and impose penalties for non‑compliance.
Why we would sign this petition
- Keeps essential local news and emergency alerts running for residents, including those with limited internet access, preserving services the petitioners say national outlets cannot fully replace.
- Supports local democratic oversight by sustaining municipal reporting and scrutiny of local officials that the petition links to healthy communities.
- Creates enforceable standards via legislation and CRTC oversight, giving communities remedies if broadcasters close local news operations.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Mandating local services by law could impose large operational costs and regulatory burdens on broadcasters, risking station viability in smaller markets.
- Direct government requirements for private media raise concerns about editorial independence and government interference in news operations.
- Targeted alternatives—such as public funding, community ownership, or competition measures—might preserve local news more flexibly than blanket mandates.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons On July 7, 2026, Rogers Sports & Media shut down six radio stations across Canada, including 570 NewsRadio Kitchener and 660 NewsRadio Calgary; These stations served an essential public-interest function that national media, websites, or social platforms cannot fully replace; and These closures eliminated trusted sources of local news, emergency alerts, traffic and weather information, municipal reporting. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Direct Rogers who control critical public airwaves yet prioritize profits over the public interest they were entrusted to serve by mandating them to keep local radio stations open through necessary legislation; 2. Keep local stations open for residents with limited internet access as these stations served an essential public-interest function that national media, websites, or social platforms cannot fully replace — especially during emergencies, severe weather, elections, or transportation disruptions; 3. Act decisively to stop further erosion of local media and protect these vital services as a critical infrastructure for informed communities and a functioning democracy to scrutinize local politicians and issues; 4. Immediately direct the CRTC to conduct a full public inquiry into these closures and their impact on local news, emergency information, and democratic accountability in affected communities (Kitchener-Waterloo, Calgary, and similar secondary markets); 5. Introduce legislation to mandate local news and information radio services as essential public services, requiring licensed broadcasters to maintain minimum local programming and news operations in their markets, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance; and 6. Strengthen oversight of the Rogers-Bell-TELUS oligopoly to ensure these companies fulfill their public-interest obligations, including greater competition and accountability measures.
Government response
No government response is available yet.