CRTC approves Canadian pornographic TV channel

Viewers urged to send objections to cable providers

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Pro-family groups are asking Canadians to contact their cable providers to stop a new pornography channel from obtaining a carrier.

On Aug. 13, the CRTC approved Northern Peaks, a pay-TV pornography channel that would have 50 per cent Canadian content, contingent on its finding a cable company to distribute it.

"The result of this CRTC decision is that, not only will Canada have yet another pornography channel, but, also, it will lead to the creation of a pornography industry in Canada," said an alert issued by REAL Women of Canada Aug. 21.

"This is scarcely of benefit to society, and only benefits the owners and controllers of this new pornography industry."

"Pornography is not a victimless procedure. It is addictive and leads to changes in behaviour that undermine women, children and society as a whole," the group said.

REAL Women disagreed with the CRTC argument that it does not take a moral perspective on applications, since it "has been noticeably reluctant over the years to license any religious broadcasting."

The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) urged its members to contact their cable providers in a message sent Aug. 21.

The CRTC said it received no interventions on the channel, but CCRL and REAL Women pointed out the public hearing notice for the channel was posted in March, with no mention of pornography content.

The licence for the channel lapses in three years if Northern Peaks fails to find a carrier. REAL Women suggests concerned Canadians also write to the CRTC and to Prime Minister Harper to register their disapproval.

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