CJFE Welcomes Today's CRTC Decision to Allow Al Jazeera English Broadcasts

TORONTO , Nov. 26 /CNW/ - Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) welcomes the news today that the CRTC has approved without any restrictions the addition of Al Jazeera English Television to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis in Canada .

CJFE sent a letter in June 2009 in support of the application urging the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to approve ECGL's (Ethnic Channels Group Limited) request for the addition of Al Jazeera English. CJFE also called for the CRTC to allow the Al Jazeera signal to be broadcast without any delay or monitoring restrictions.

"We hail this decision as an indication that Canada welcomes access to a diversity of opinions and sources of news," stated CJFE President Arnold Amber . "With this kind of free expression and access to information Canadians will have more information they need to make informed judgments about world events and issues."

Al Jazeera English is a global English-language, all-news channel broadcast in over 100 countries around the world. Al Jazeera's English and Arabic services have a combined total of 69 news bureaus in places such as Kuala Lumpur , Doha , London and Washington.

To view the CRTC's decision, visit: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-725.htm.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is an association of more than 300 journalists, editors, publishers, producers, students and others who work to promote and defend free expression and press freedom in Canada and abroad. www.cjfe.org

For further information: CJFE Manager, Julie Payne at [phone] x. 226