CAB TO SEEK LEAVE TO APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA ON PART II LICENCE FEE CHALLENGE CAB Release Canada’s private broadcasters have reacted to the April 28th Federal Court of Appeal decision that overturned an earlier Federal Court Trial Division ruling regarding broadcast licence fees. In December of 2006, the Federal Court Trial Division ruled that the CRTC Part II Licence Fees collected by the federal government from broadcasters and broadcast distributors were an illegal tax. The Crown appealed that decision to the Federal Court of Appeal, which ruled that the fees are valid regulatory charges. The CAB launched this challenge in 2003.
“CAB members are disappointed with the outcome of the appeal. Based on members’ stated intentions, there is no doubt the CAB will seek leave to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada,” said Glenn O’Farrell, President and CEO of the CAB.
The Part II Licence Fees are over and above payments made to the CRTC to defray the cost of the regulation and supervision of the industry. The fees exceed $100 million dollars annually. These funds go directly to the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The CAB is the national voice of Canada’s private broadcasters representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, networks, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services. The goal of the CAB is to represent and advance the interests of Canada’s private broadcasters in the social, cultural and economic fabric of the country. |