Taras, DavidAtkins, Chloe G.K.Blackbird, Maizun Jayoussi2017-12-182017-12-182012http://hdl.handle.net/1880/105714Bibliography: p. 90-94Includes copy of ethics approval. Original copy with original Partial Copyright Licence.This thesis examines public communicative access rights in the public sphere of Canadian television, using the unresolved Adbusters court case as a reference point. This Charier case challenges the right of private and public broadcasters to arbitrarily decide who can and cannot purchase commercial airtime, which Adbusters claims is a violation of its right to freedom of expression in a public space (i.e. the public airwaves). Jn the context of relevant Canadian laws, policies and judicial decisions, the question of 'who should have the right to purchase commercial airtime on publicly owned but privately controlled airwaves?' is examined and compared from a legal perspective and from the theoretical concept of the public sphere. This legal issue raises some significant questions about the inherent relationship between the public sphere, democracy and communication. This thesis investigates the Canadian perspective and discusses some of the underlying tensions and contradictions it reveals.viii, 97 leaves ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.master thesis10.11575/PRISM/4713