Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) Committee on March 3rd, 2011

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

You talk about the importance of radio, particularly local radio. But we all agree with you. That's not the question. That isn't the topic, the theme. We don't agree with you because you're seeking an exemption regarding existing rights. You essentially want to increase your profits to the detriment of our creators.

I don't agree either when you say the industry as a whole doesn't have the necessary resources. We're talking about $64 million out of $1.5 billion in revenue. I believe approximately 5% or 6%. You mentioned an unsustainable burden, and I find it hard to believe that it can be considered that way.

As a preliminary question, I'd like to know whether the copy we're talking about has a value.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

In what sense? Do you mean market value?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Does it have a value? Is it worth something?

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

Are you talking about market value?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

First, does it have a value for you? Is it useful to you?

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

You have to recall that content is not always delivered in a format that we can use. Sometimes there has to be a change in format. Tell me, does that have a value? If someone sends me music in one format and I transfer it to an MP3 format, do you believe that has a market value?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

To the extent that's necessary for you to subsequently to broadcast it, it seems to me it has a value.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

Yes, but you asked me a question about the market value, and I'm telling you that we receive content in formats that I can't use. So I have to make a transfer. You think that has a market value?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

But if you couldn't do that through new technologies, you'd go back to what, to CDs? You'd have libraries of CDs, a DJ and researchers?

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

We'd have to go back to music libraries and tell people from the record companies—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You don't want to do that?

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

The people from the record companies wouldn't be happy if we told them to keep their content because we're not interested.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

That's why I think that has a value. If you no longer have to maintain a library because you no longer have researchers—

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

And the value associated with the fact that the music industry is no longer required to make a physical product isn't recognized?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Well yes, it's recognized.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

It's not reflected in the tariff, and the tariff doesn't reflect the value of the advertising.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

The technology has evolved. It's resulted in benefits for creators, but also constraints, such as the fact that their music is being downloaded.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

We're talking about justice, Mr. Rodriguez. However, the tariff acknowledges no value for the advertising we do for Canadian artists. No value is attributed to that. In what way is that fair? You believe that we're bad guys and that only the creators are good people.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Not at all.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

We're also good people in the radio industry. We aren't all bad people.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes, yes, we love you; we love you.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

I frankly consider that a curious view.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You say you're paying twice for the same right.

[Sylvie Courtemanche]

We pay for what amounts to handling. We're—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

When you were speaking with Mr. Del Mastro, you said you paid twice for the same right. However, there are two rights.