There won't be a new FM station at 91.7 now or in the near future. The CRTC has reached the conclusion that the market can't sustain another radio station in Pickering/Ajax, regardless of format. The study came after a company applied for a licence for an ethnic station in the area. 

It won't surprise most here that the usual crowd immediately filed interventions, with most arguing it would hurt their existing outlets. Among those objecting: CJRK, the ethnic broadcaster at 102.7 in Scarborough that most of us have never heard, CHIN, which doesn't want any more competition, despite having wangled three stations in the market (1540 AM, 100.7 FM and 91.9 FM) and Corus, which also objects to more competition, although didn't seem to mind an ethnic newcomer if it came to that. 

Still, not everyone was against the idea. The Asian TV Network said it would be interested in competing for a station if the Commission found the market could support one. So did Radio Humsafar, which just started a new ethnic outlet of its own in Brampton at 1350 AM.

And Torres Media, which runs CIDX Uxbridge, another station most of us have never tuned into, wanted in on the game, too - but only if the station was in English. The CRTC quickly swatted that one down, saying it would never entertain such a thing, given the already crowded GTA radio dial. "The Commission considers that weakness in the overall Toronto commercial radio market and particularly among ethnic stations puts into question the feasibility of a new station in Ajax/Pickering."

So after almost a year of consideration, the question is resolved. There's no room for yet another station in any market in or around the Toronto area. Which doesn't necessarily mean they'll stop trying.  

CRTC announcement