| abstract
| - The Canadian Press Council (CPC) is a statutory organization in Canada responsible for the regulation and conduct of the Canadian press and print media. The Press Council was established in 1951 by the Press Freedom Act, which also established the Council's core mandate; that is to "ensure responsible and ethical conduct by the Canadian free press". The CPC is an independent body within the Ministry of Culture and Moral Guidance, and answers directly to the Minister. The Council is led by a director, assisted by two assistant directors, and features a large bureaucracy of over 15,000 permanent employees. Censors, who make up the majority of staff, must sift through all newspaper, magazine and newsletter publications in Canada and the occupied zones to ensure they adhere to the Council's regulations. Publications which do not adhere to the regulations are denied permission to release their material. The supplies of content as well as the publishers themselves must be registered with the CPC. Non-registration or violation of a CPC order is considered an offense under the Press Freedom Act, which is punishable by a fine or imprisonment, depending on severity.
|