How to complain to the CBSC
 

• Make your complaint about a given program as soon as possible. Regulations require broadcasters to keep tapes of their telecasts or radio programs for four weeks only.
• Clearly state your concerns in writing. Include the name, date and time of the program. Be sure to name all the stations on which the offending program appears.

To register your complaint, write to:

Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC)
P.O. Box 3265, Station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6H8

Tel: (613) 233-4607
Fax: (613) 233-4826

The CBSC also provides a complaints page on their Web site, at: http://www.cbsc.ca/english/complaints/howto.htm.

What happens when you complain:
 

• When a viewer or listener complains to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), the complaint is forwarded to the broadcasters concerned. Broadcasters are encouraged to resolve the grievance directly with the complainant. Most of the time matters are settled this way.
  
  
• If the broadcaster's response fails to satisfy the complainant, he/she may sign the "Ruling Request" form sent by the CBSC. By signing this form, the complainant asks the CBSC to refer the complaint to a Regional Panel.
  
  
• The CBSC will send the complaint letter, the broadcaster's response and a tape of the program to the appropriate Regional Panel. At its next meeting, the Panel will decide whether the broadcaster has contravened any of the Codes and whether the broadcaster's response was satisfactory. The CBSC will provide the complainant and the broadcaster with the full text of the decision. The decision is also posted on the CBSC Web site.
  
  
• If the Panel upholds the complaint, the broadcaster must announce the decision on air. If the decision is in the broadcaster's favour, the broadcaster need not air it; however, the CBSC releases all of its decisions to the national media.
  
  
• If the Regional Panel decision does not satisfy the complainant, the CRTC becomes the "court of last resort".

  
  Here are summaries of the three processes:
   

Related Lessons

Broadcasting Codes

Violence on Television