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e-7574 (Media and telecommunications)
E-petition
Initiated by Michael Bayer from Kincardine, Ontario
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons
Whereas:
- 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.
- Open for signature
- July 10, 2026, at 9:56 a.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- October 8, 2026, at 9:56 a.m. (EDT)
