Canadian Heritage Committee on Jan. 30th, 2024

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Certainly.

I'm sorry I took so long.

[Catherine Tait]

I think that she was cut off in the middle of a sentence. It would be helpful if she could continue her response.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

We can also continue when it's my turn to speak again.

[Dany Meloul]

I'll be happy to respond.

I just want to be clear about one thing…

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Now, for the NDP, we have Peter Julian for two and a half minutes.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Madam Chair, I counted about 15 seconds left.

[Catherine Tait]

Aren't we allowed to respond?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, actually. You've gone a little bit over, but that's okay. Most everybody went over, so I'll let you have a very quick answer, Ms. Meloul.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[Dany Meloul]

Thank you.

I want you to know that we take Radio‑Canada's role very seriously. It provides information and entertainment to all French‑speaking Canadians, but also supports the media ecosystem, which is particularly fragile in the regions. As a result, we must ensure that productions from Winnipeg or Moncton are aired on Radio‑Canada.

In terms of cuts, we have the same structural deficit in our budgets. This deficit must also be balanced. We made that choice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Ms. Meloul. Would you wrap up, please.

[Dany Meloul]

We chose to make fewer cuts in independent production.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thanks very much.

Next is Peter Julian for two and a half minutes, please.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

At least three parties around the table just sent the message that it's important to set aside the bonuses, focus on journalistic positions and maintain this network across the country. It's vital. I hope that the message from our committee is that it's important to invest where Canadians can benefit the most.

However, one political party here is calling for the destruction of the CBC. It claims that Radio‑Canada can survive without the CBC. That isn't my impression. It's quite the opposite. In Vancouver, for example, the CBC and Radio‑Canada share resources. When we ask journalists to attend our press conferences, which they often do, they attend on behalf of both networks. That way, the French‑speaking community of British Columbia can obtain the information. It's vital to share resources.

Is it fair to claim that the CBC's funding can be completely eliminated and that Radio‑Canada can carry on just fine, despite the CBC's destruction?

[Catherine Tait]

That was the focus of my remarks in Montreal. It's impossible to imagine Radio‑Canada without the CBC. We share infrastructure, buildings and technological equipment. We even share administrative and financial resources. We're one company, except when it comes to programming, news and decisions about programs and series. Of course, these things are managed separately. For everything else, we share infrastructure.

If the CBC is eliminated, the cuts at Radio‑Canada will be far more difficult and substantial.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It isn't true, as the Conservative Party claims, that Radio‑Canada will carry on just fine despite the elimination of the CBC.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Now we're going to Ms. Thomas for five minutes, please.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Ms. Tait, I just looked online, and as CEO, it is your responsibility to determine who you would recommend for bonuses and how much. You recommend that to the board. Then the board can veto you, of course, if they wish to. Of course, if they were to do that, it would signal that they don't have confidence in your leadership.

I think, given the fact that they've extended your contract by 18 months, they probably would take your recommendation. I'm just curious. It's coming up in two months. Will you be recommending that executive bonuses be given?

[Catherine Tait]

I will respond to that question as I have earlier, which is to say, if we achieve the results of the current fiscal year, I will recommend that the 1,140 unaffiliated non-unionized employees receive their fair pay, their performance pay.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Their fair pay, their bonus pay. So you will be recommending in two months' time that the executives receive a bonus.

[Catherine Tait]

If they achieve their targets....

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Okay.

You already said earlier that targets were not met in previous years. I also looked that up online, and that is in fact true. In fact, not only were there a number of targets not met, but the vast majority of targets were only partially met, yet still bonuses were given. How many targets have to be fully met in order for bonuses to be given this year?

[Marco Dubé]

We have a system whereby targets can be partially met, not met or overachieved. We go through that system. We present this to the board. At the end of the year the board approves the performance of the organization.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

How many have to be completely met in order for the bonus to be given?

[Marco Dubé]

I would suspect that some of it has to be completely met to have—