A broadcasting policy can influence which voices reach the airwaves and how much room communities have to tell their own stories. The people affected by those choices don't always get to shape the rules. Canada's communications regulator is trying a more participatory approach to its next Indigenous Broadcasting Policy.
In a notice dated September 28, 2026, the CRTC confirmed funding to help Indigenous communities and groups organize their own engagement events. These discussions will contribute to the public record of the policy review. The Commission also plans to establish a joint working group with Indigenous representatives and Commission staff to consider what the policy should address.
There's an important difference between inviting a written submission and giving communities resources to hold their own conversations. Under the notice, eligible event costs may include travel, planning, venues and translation. Groups wishing to host a funded event must register their intention by November 27, 2026, and provide their intervention report by March 30, 2027.
The joint working group is another route for participation. Expressions of interest are due January 26, 2027. Its proposed membership includes First Nations, Inuit and Métis representatives, broadcasters, creators and audiences, with attention to regional and language differences. The group is expected to prepare a report for public comment before the Commission finalizes a draft policy.
None of this is a final broadcasting rule. The consultation remains a process, and its value will depend on how meaningfully community perspectives influence the outcome. For Canadian arts and culture, it's worth following because the rules governing broadcasting affect more than business arrangements. They can affect whose languages, histories and creative work audiences get to encounter.
The complete deadlines, eligibility details and participation arrangements are in the CRTC's September 28 notice.