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2021 Allocation of Paid Time

Seal of the Broadcast Arbitrator

The Broadcasting Arbitrator

99 Bank Street
Suite 1420
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1H4

Tel.: 613-783-9698
email:  monica.song@dentons.com

Ottawa, March 31, 2021


Reasons for Decision

  1. On December 19, 2020, a notice of deregistration was published in the Canada Gazette indicating that the United Party of Canada would be deregistered on December 31, 2020.

Meeting of Registered Parties

  1. In accordance with subsection 340(1) of the Canada Elections Act (the "Act"), a meeting of the registered parties was convened on February 9, 2021, to reallocate the deregistered party's broadcasting time. The meeting also constituted the annual meeting required to be held under section 343 of the Act to review the allocation and entitlement to paid broadcasting time under sections 337, 338 and 339.
  2. Once again, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting was held via videoconference and was attended by representatives of 14 of the 20 registered parties.
  3. My January 8, 2021, decision—in which I allocated paid broadcasting time on the basis of a meeting held on November 9, 2020—was based on the 21 registered parties and two eligible parties involved at that time.
  4. As noted above, the United Party of Canada was deregistered on December 31, 2020, thereby bringing the number of registered parties to 20.
  5. In addition, a new party, the Centrist Party, has become an eligible party, resulting in a total of three parties that have become eligible parties since the last general election and that have requested that paid broadcasting time be made available to them in the next general election:
    • (a) the Patriot Party;
    • (b) the Maverick Party; and
    • (c) the Centrist Party.
  6. In light of the foregoing, the within decision is made on the basis that there were 20 registered parties and three eligible parties that have requested that paid broadcasting time be made available to them in the next general election.
  7. Section 343 of the Act requires that, at an annual meeting of registered parties, I consider any requests made by eligible parties in allocating paid broadcasting time to registered parties. In particular, subsection 343(2) of the Act directs that, if the total broadcasting time allocated or requested exceeds six and one-half hours (390 minutes), the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall reduce the allocated or requested time to six and one-half hours "on a proportionate basis and that reduction shall be final and binding on all registered parties and eligible parties."
  8. At the meeting on February 9, 2021, I presented a one-half time allocation scenario to the registered parties. Under the one-half allocation scenario between the registered parties, one-half of the available paid broadcasting time is allocated equally among the registered parties and the remaining one-half of the available time is allocated based on the statutory factors set out in section 338 of the Act. The one-half allocation approach was first instituted by my predecessor in 2016 and has been in use since.
  9. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, and for the reasons set out in my January 8 decision, I have decided to exercise my discretion to modify the statutory factors by staying with the one-half allocation approach. This approach represents an appropriate middle ground that provides a higher minimum amount of time for all parties with due regard to the statutory factors.
  10. Accordingly, I make the attached Order allocating 390 minutes between the 20 parties that were registered as of February 9, 2021, with proportionate reductions to take into account the fact that 18 minutes of this total are reserved for three eligible parties that have requested that paid advertising time be made available to them in the next general election.
  11. I wish to thank all of the parties for their cooperation at the meeting.

Original signed by

Y. Monica Song
The Broadcasting Arbitrator

Seal of the Broadcast Arbitrator

The Broadcasting Arbitrator

99 Bank Street
Suite 1420
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1H4

Tel.: 613-783-9698
email:  monica.song@dentons.com


2021 Allocation of paid time

Order

1. Following a meeting of the registered parties held on February 9, 2021, and pursuant to subsections 337(3) and 343(2) of the Canada Elections Act, I hereby allocate the broadcasting time to be made available under section 335 of the Act on the basis set forth in the Appendix.

March 31, 2021

Original signed by

Y. Monica Song
The Broadcasting Arbitrator


Appendix

Allocation of Broadcasting Time to Be Made Available by Every Broadcaster Under Section 335 of the Canada Elections Act for Purchase by Registered Parties and Eligible Parties, as Determined by the Broadcasting Arbitrator Under Subsections 337(3) and 343((2) of the Act

(Ottawa, March 31, 2021)

Political Parties Min:Sec
1. Liberal Party of Canada 77:30
2. Conservative Party of Canada 70:00
3. New Democratic Party 33:30
4. Bloc Québécois 23:30
5. Green Party of Canada 21:00
6. People's Party of Canada 16:30
7. Christian Heritage Party of Canada 10:00
8. Parti Rhinocéros Party 9:30
9. Libertarian Party of Canada 9:30
10. Veterans Coalition Party of Canada 9:30
11. Animal Protection Party of Canada 9:00
12. Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada 10:00
13. Communist Party of Canada 9:30
14. Parti pour l'Indépendance du Québec 9:00
15. Marijuana Party 9:00
16. Canada's Fourth Front 9:00
17. National Citizens Alliance of Canada 9:00
18. Stop Climate Change 9:00
19. Canadian Nationalist Party 9:00
20. Free Party of Canada 9:00
21. Patriot Party 6:00
22. Maverick Party 6:00
23. Centrist Party 6:00
Total 390:00