How to make a broadcasting complaint

If you have seen or heard something on TV or radio that you object to, or you have another type of issue about your broadcasting service, you can make a complaint.

The CRTC is not a board of censors, and can't tell broadcasters what they can air. However, certain standards apply to the content of programs, and broadcasters are expected to comply with these standards.

• Who to contact for broadcasting complaints
• Filing a broadcasting complaint with the CRTC
• How the CRTC handles complaints
• Privacy

Who to contact for broadcasting complaints

Different organizations handle different types of complaints. Check this list to file your complaint with the right organization.

First stop for any complaint: your broadcaster

• Broadcasters : responsible for the choice, content, and scheduling of all their programming.
• TV service providers: responsible for your TV subscription, service, and bill. TVSPs include cable, IPTV and satellite service providers.

You should contact the broadcaster or your service provider first with any complaint. Many complaints are resolved at this stage.

Do you have a TV service complaint that you have not been able to fix with your provider?

You can contact the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS). The CCTS is an independent organization dedicated to working with consumers and service providers to resolve complaints about TV, telephone and internet services. The CCTS website features additional resources on how you can submit a complaint.

Each year the CCTS reports publicly on all consumer complaints it receives. Read their annual and mid-year reports.

Contact the CCTS

• email: response@ccts-cprst.ca
• mail: P.O. Box 56067 – Minto Place RO, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7Z1
• fax: 1-877-782-2924
• toll-free telephone: 1-888-221-1687
• toll free TTY: Contact us and Support Centre

Do you have a complaint about TV or radio broadcasting content that you have not been able to fix?

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) is the complaints resolution body for private radio and TV stations and specialty services. Check if the broadcaster is an Associate of the CBSC. For a complaint that involves an associate of the CBSC:

• Contact the CBSC:
  • online: www.cbsc.ca
  • mail: P.O. Box 3265, Station D Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6H8
  • fax: 613-233-4826
  • telephone: 613-233-4607
  • toll-free telephone: 1-866-696-4718

  Do you have a complaint about TV or radio advertising content that you have not been able to fix?

  • Contact the Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) at :
    • online: www.adstandards.ca
    • email: info@adstandards.ca
    • mail: 175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 1801
      Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R8
    • fax: 416-961-7904
    • telephone: 416-961-6311
    • mail: 2015 Peel Street, Suite 915
      Montréal, Québec H3A 1T8
    • fax: 514-931-2797
    • telephone: 514-931-8060

    Complaints about CBC news or journalistic practices

    The Office of the CBC Ombudsman is responsible for evaluating compliance of CBC news and current affairs content with the CBC’s journalistic policies. It is an independent and impartial body that reports directly to the President of the CBC. The CBC Ombudsman will review complaints about the news programming of CBC radio and TV, as well as CBC’s internet and social media news content.

    • Contact the CBC Ombudsman:
      • online: www.ombudsman.cbc.radio-canada.ca
      • email: ombud@cbc.ca
      • mail: CBC Ombudsman, P.O. Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W1E6
      • fax: 416-205-2825
      • telephone: 416-205-2978

      Other complaints including complaints about accessibility

      For any other complaints, including complaints about accessibility:

      • contact the CRTC:
        • online: Ask a question or make a complaint
        • mail: Client Services, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
        • fax: 819-994-0218
        • toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
        • alternative formats: other formats that improve accessibility for people with disabilities
        • toll-free TTY: Contact us and Support Centre

        Accessibility issues: The CRTC handles complaints about accessibility. For example, if you ask your broadcasting service provider to submit your bill in Braille and it doesn't do so, contact the company again. If you're still not satisfied, contact the CRTC.

        Filing a broadcasting complaint with the CRTC

        Write your complaint

        All broadcasting complaints must be made in writing. If you make a complaint by phone, you also need to send a written version.

        Include this information in your complaint:

        • your name, and an email or postal address
        • a description of the problem and/or your concerns
        • the radio or TV station’s name or call sign, and location
        • the date, time and name of the program or ad that prompted you to write
        • the name and location of your service provider (i.e., cable company, satellite provider, or wireless distribution service), where applicable

        Include your name

        Include your name with your complaint. The CRTC doesn't follow up on anonymous complaints.

        Broadcasters and service providers have the right to know who makes a complaint, and what the complaint is. They also have the right to respond. You can file a complaint with the CRTC, without fear of retaliation from any company.

        File within 4 weeks of the broadcast

        File your complaint within 4 weeks following the broadcast.

        Why? Because broadcasters keep tapes of their broadcasts for 4 weeks. If they receive your complaint more than 4 weeks after the program or ad has aired, the tapes may no longer be available, and the CRTC may not be able to follow up.

        Note about broadcast tapes: The CRTC can request tapes for its own use, but can't ask for tapes or transcripts for you. If you want tapes or transcripts of a program, some broadcasters will sell them, but they don't have to provide tapes or transcripts to the public.

        How the CRTC handles complaints

        Responding to you

        CRTC Client Services receives and reviews your complaint, and responds to you directly or forwards your complaint.

        Depending on the volume of complaints and enquiries, you should receive a response from the CRTC within 10 working days after the complaint is received, even if it's just to let you know that your complaint has been forwarded.

        Forwarding your complaint

        Your complaint may be forwarded to one of the following:

        • The CBC Ombudsman. If your complaint involves news and current affairs content of the CBC, the CRTC forwards it immediately to the Office of the CBC Ombudsman, and lets you know it has been forwarded.
        • CBSC. If your complaint involves an Associate of the CBSC, the CRTC forwards it to the CBSC right away, and lets you know it has been forwarded.
        • The company involved, to resolve the issue with you. Sometimes no follow up by the CRTC is necessary.
        • The company involved, asking it to respond to you (with a copy to the CRTC) within 20 calendar days. CRTC staff review your concerns and the response to decide whether any regulatory action is needed. If not, the CRTC may not contact you again.
        • The CCTS. If your complaint relates to the services provided by your cable, IPTV or satellite provider and you have already taken steps to resolve the complaint directly with the service provider, the CRTC may forward your complaint to the CCTS.

        Following up

        If the company doesn't respond within 20 calendar days, the CRTC sends a written reminder. If there's still no answer, the CRTC raises all unanswered complaints with the company when it applies to renew its licence.

        If your complaint alleges that the company violated the Broadcasting Act or CRTC policies or regulations, CRTC staff will decide if any further process or regulatory action is required.

        Privacy

        If your complaint involves an Associate of the CBSC, the CRTC forwards it right away.

        The CRTC notifies you that it is forwarding your complaint, with your name and address, to the company involved. If you have concerns about your privacy, contact the CRTC within 20 calendar days of receiving the notification.

        If you contact the CRTC to remove your name and address from the file, the complaint will be withdrawn. If you don't contact the CRTC, the complaint will be pursued.

        Under Canada's Privacy Act, you can ask that your correspondence not be made publicly accessible. But if you do, the CRTC may not be able to follow up on your complaint.

        Once the file is closed, your name, your complaint, and the response to your complaint are kept in a file that can be read by the public. This information is used to assess the performance of the broadcaster at the time of licence renewal.

        Date modified: 2020-10-08