Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for this opportunity to appear before you today, and I welcome you to Vancouver on what is, for us, a pretty typical spring day.
British Columbia Film is a not-for-profit society that was established in 1987 by the Government of British Columbia, with the mandate to expand and diversify the film, television, and digital media sectors in British Columbia.
We acknowledge the importance of reviewing the role of Canada's public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada. Canada, like many other countries, is faced with the challenge of redefining the role of its public broadcaster in a rapidly changing national and global media environment. Given our geography, diversity, and proximity to the largest producer of entertainment product in the world, Canada's public broadcaster has a unique and essential responsibility to the Canadian public. Given these challenges, British Columbia Film supports maintaining a strong national public broadcaster and supports the existing mandate of the CBC as set out in the Broadcasting Act.
Our comments this afternoon will focus on those questions posed by the standing committee in framing this review that are of particular relevance to British Columbia Film, and it will be made primarily in the context of English language television.
Television, private and public, is faced with profound change in the years to come. The proliferation of cable and specialty television channels, the decrease in foreign market financing, the impact of audience fragmentation, the emergence of multi-platform content delivery systems, and the looming cost of high-definition television will all affect what has been a relatively stable broadcast sector. Above all, there is the continuing challenge to create and produce high-quality, distinctively Canadian television that can attract audiences and compete against the juggernaut of American television programs that are so readily available to Canadian audiences.
Yet in light of all these challenges and the rapid pace of technological change and innovation that the broadcasting industry is experiencing, the mandate of the CBC remains remarkably relevant. The mandate speaks to the central role of the public broadcaster while allowing for flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances. It is our view that it is fundamentally important, as a first step, to review, clarify, and affirm the mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada. Issues and questions pertaining to governance, management, and operational delivery can only be addressed in the context of an affirmed mandate.
We believe a balance between the mandate of the public broadcaster and the resources that are available to support its purposes must be found. Finding this balance is at the heart of mapping a direction for the CBC in the decades ahead.
As Canadians, we have choices in this regard, but with choices there are implications. A broad and expansive mandate without the resources to support it is little more than rhetoric. Conversely, a narrow and restrictive mandate, while perhaps more affordable, may fail to meet the expectations that Canadians have for their public broadcaster.
The Canadian broadcasting system, public and private, is supported by a range of federal and provincial policies and programs that provide direct and indirect economic support to broadcasters and Canadian television programming. The Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm Canada, labour-based tax credits, the funding programs of provincial agencies, and other programs established to preserve, promote, and develop Canadian culture all contribute to the sector.
Our broadcast system is composed of privately owned conventional broadcasters that are accountable to their shareholders and derive significant public benefit directly or indirectly as a matter of federal and provincial public policy and a public broadcaster that derives significant revenues through commercial transactions that are normally associated with the private sector. It is our perspective that the distinction between public and private broadcaster has become blurred to a considerable degree.
All parties in the broadcasting sector--specialty, conventional, public, and private--have access to benefits created by public policy.
In the context of these public policy benefits and the fiscal challenges facing CBC/ Radio-Canada, as outlined in our submission, we believe that finding the balance between mandate and resources will serve to establish the foundation for the future. Coming to an agreement on the blend of public and private funding, as well as identifying the most effective and efficient mechanism for providing these resources, stands at the core of this review. We believe that finding this balance is achievable and that finding it is quintessentially Canadian. Further, we believe that support for CBC/Radio-Canada should be provided on a multi-year basis that at a minimum reflects the three-year industry planning cycle.
The committee has also invited comments on the adequacy of services that reflect Canada's regional and linguistic diversity. It is our view that the time has come to move beyond the talk of regions, as though most of Canada exists at some geographic and intellectual distance from the centre. We take issue with the notion that British Columbia or Vancouver is a region in relation to a centre that is located elsewhere.
If the public broadcaster is to succeed, it is essential that it move beyond the concept of regions and focus on serving the distinct needs of communities across Canada. In this regard, the responsiveness of the public broadcaster to local and linguistic diversity is an ongoing concern. CBC/Radio-Canada must redouble its efforts to root itself in local communities throughout the country and ensure that Canadians, regardless of where they live, can have their voices heard in framing the priorities of their public broadcaster.
Vancouver is a striking example of the growing diversity in Canadian communities, and it is becoming increasingly important for CBC/Radio-Canada to connect with and reflect the cultures and customs of our multicultural and multi-ethnic communities.
The emergence of new technology poses numerous challenges for conventional television broadcasters. Consumers now have significantly expanded opportunities to choose how and where they watch video content. Many of the new platforms are on-demand services, which enable consumers to view programming not available on television, and some provide content in a different format from traditional television, offering a new viewing experience. For broadcasters, meeting these challenges by developing viable content and revenue models is critical to future success.
We believe that CBC/Radio-Canada has been a leader in the development of multi-platform programming for Canadian audiences. The website cbc.ca has established itself as a pre-eminent site for news and information. CBC has also been a pioneer in the development of user-generated content for television broadcast purposes. The now cancelled Zed was an innovative web-based program that invited the creation of user-generated content, including video uploads for television broadcasts. Zed was a new kind of television program that had an impact in the television and new media communities reaching far beyond the limited measures of audience and advertising. It is our view that new media is included in the existing mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada, and it is appropriate and necessary for the public broadcaster to exploit new platforms in fulfilling its mandate.
CBC/Radio-Canada must offer news, information, and entertainment content to Canadians in a manner that is consistent with the changing viewer preferences of our citizens. To do this, it must embrace new delivery platforms. The committee has also questioned whether the CRTC should regulate the new media sector. This is a significant question, and it may be that the CRTC should revisit its 1999 new media ruling. However, as CBC/Radio-Canada is subject to CRTC review, we believe its new media initiatives will fall within the existing regulatory framework.
While acknowledging the importance of new media, we do want to emphasize the resiliency and the adaptability of television. Television will continue to be the dominant platform for content delivery for the foreseeable future.
In conclusion, British Columbia Film supports maintaining a strong public broadcaster, a public broadcaster that is equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century and one that connects to the hearts and souls of Canadians.
We agree that this review is of fundamental importance, that solutions can be found, and that a uniquely Canadian balance can be struck. This is the genius and the promise of Canada. A reaffirmed mandate for CBC/Radio-Canada is an essential first step. Finding the balance between mandate and resources is achievable--a balance between what Canadians want and what CBC/Radio-Canada can deliver, between public and private funding, between popular and populous programs--and can create a public broadcasting service that Canadians will take pride in.
And finally, with this mandate review behind us, we expect CBC/Radio-Canada to proceed with its business of serving Canadians across all platforms and to provide periodic reports on its performance to assure Canadians that the mandate is being met.
Thank you for your time and for your attention.