Process and criteria in public broadcasting governance : Appointments to CBC and CRTC

The provision for remuneration of expenses, albeit small, in the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Act of 1932 probably reveals a deliberate attempt to allow appointees other than the very wealthy to serve, as was the case for the Senate.14 The legacy of these reimbursement funds today suggests the attractiveness of some socio-economic balance among appointees. [...] Reference in 4 the 1968 Broadcasting Act to the obligation of the CBC and CRTC to “safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada” suggested a requirement for representation from those communities. [...] The 1991 Broadcasting Act illuminated the need for the CBC and the CRTC to be both “adaptable to scientific and technological change” and capable of pursuing the “most appropriate and efficient means” of effecting change, implying the need for individuals with technical, broadcasting, and financial and management experience. [...] This legislation also calls attention to demographic diversity, especially the need to reflect “the circumstances and aspirations of Canadian women,” the “multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society,” and the “special place of aboriginal peoples.”16 Of all potential criteria, perhaps the most persuasive is what might be called “profile.” In 1958, reflecting on the first appointments t [...] The average age of appointment for the CBC has been 52, and of retirement, 56; for the CRTC, the average age of appointment has been 53 and of retirement, 57.