The change-over will take place in March. The media in Toronto focused on the CBC and on another proposal that would have established a station to serve the black community in the Ontario capital region. Bingley feels his proposal was the best when considered in the light of written legislation and policy. He suspects that the decision was influenced by political considerations. After several years of drastic federal funding cuts, there was public pressure on Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps to help CBC Radio.
Some observers feel the decision indicates the commissioners felt that pressure.
Gary Farmer, the publisher of Aboriginal Voices, has no doubt that political issues were played out in the CRTC decision, but he believes the project will soon become a reality anyway. The actor, with several Hollywood motion picture credits on his resume, is from the Six Nations reserve in southern Ontario. When contacted for his comments, he was making plans for a live broadcast during the annual Toronto SkyDome Powwow in late November. He said that there are two other vacant radio frequencies that could be obtained in the near future. Either could be used to broadcast from a transmitter on top of Toronto's CN Tower, the world's tallest free-standing structure.