CKLB's live broadcasts end this week
Station will broadcast only recorded programming as of Friday
by John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There may be an "off the air" gathering scheduled for Thursday, but the head of the Native Communications Society of the NWT, which owns and operates CKLB, remains optimistic the radio station will survive.
The only aboriginal community radio station in the NWT, CKLB is eliminating live radio programming after its funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage ran out earlier this year. The Native Communication Society was supposed to receive $627,000 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, but had received only a portion of it.
The radio station says its cry for more funding has fallen on deaf ears. The federal government, meanwhile, says it is willing to provide funding, but the station has failed to provide the proper paperwork.
CKLB employees gather in a studio earlier this month, including Clayton Bishop, left, Deneze Nakehk'o, Lawrence Nayally and Marlene Grooms. In front is Judi Kochon. As many as 11 Native Communication Society staff will be out of work as of tomorrow. - NNSL file photo |
For listeners, the impasse means there will be no more news or live broadcasts. Music, commercials and possibly some syndicated programming will continue to be broadcast on the 101.9 FM frequency.
But JC Catholique, chair of the board at the Native Communications Society, said the news isn't all bad.
"We're continuing to complete our contribution agreement with the Department of Canadian Heritage which oversees funding for the society and the radio station. There are new clauses every year, fresh paperwork, fresh bureaucracy to deal with," said Catholique.
He said he believes CKLB will still be able to meet the requirements Canadian Heritage has set out for it.
Catholique said among those requirements are programming details, including how many hours of aboriginal language programming the station promises to provide.
"That includes everything from news and information to current affairs and music," he said.
Catholique said the station is still seeking more than $600,000 in funding for the current fiscal year, meaning the station is short contributions two years running.
"Until that funding is in the bank, we're forced to cut back to a skeleton staff," he said. "We'll have no live programming as of Aug. 1 until we have that money in our bank account."
When asked for a response to CKLB's plight, Canadian Heritage spokesperson Len Westerberg replied in an e-mail, "The Native Communication Society must provide audited financial statements for the final payment of expenses for 2013-14, by Aug. 31, 2014."
The department still has not received these statements, he wrote.
The station has been forced to layoff several employees over the course of the summer.
As many as 11 of them may be out of work as of tomorrow.
Catholique says that is regrettable, but they have no choice until the new funding is secured.
"Our budget was cut by $160,000 in the last fiscal year and with the delay in this year's funding, our hands are tied," he said. "But again, I'm confident we can meet out obligations and return to normal programming."
When asked when listeners can expect the radio station to get back to normal, Catholique replied, "I just don't know."
The public is invited to head down to the CKLB studio on Latham Island tomorrow at noon for an off-the-air barbecue.
CKLB has been on the air since 1985, and can be heard in most communities across the NWT.
