Whereas the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission rendered Decisions CRTC 96-630 and 96-631 on September 11, 1996 approving, respectively, an application by C.K.O. Cablevision Limited for a licence to carry on a cable distribution undertaking to serve localities north of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and an application by Viking Cable T.V. Limited to change the licensed area for the cable distribution undertaking serving Yarmouth and surrounding area, by including localities north of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia;

Whereas, subsequent to the rendering of Decisions CRTC 96-630 and 96-631, the Governor in Council has received a petition requesting that the said decisions be set aside or referred back to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for reconsideration and hearing;

And Whereas the Governor in Council, having considered the petition, is satisfied that Decisions CRTC 96-630 and 96-631 derogate from the attainment of the objectives of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, pursuant to section 28 of the Broadcasting Act, hereby refers Decisions CRTC 96-630 and 96-631 of September 11, 1996 back to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for reconsideration and hearing by the Commission.

The Governor in Council is of the opinion that it is material to the reconsideration and hearing that the Commission fully assess the issue of whether in certain circumstances, such as an extremely small market with a low population density, the possible negative impacts of licensing more than one distribution undertaking to serve an area would outweigh the benefits.