Thank you, Raoul.
And finally, we have a few words about new media and the role of the CBC.
Technology has brought us more and more programming choices, obviously. Cable, satellite, and the Internet have resulted in Canadians having virtually unlimited access to foreign programs.
Our analysis shows us that the new platforms would not cannibalize existing television. Cross-platform projects involving new media distribution are increasingly anchored around major television properties. That's why we and the other unions in our coalition believe that the new platforms would not detract or cannibalize from existing television.
As Canadian content created for traditional media reappears on these new platforms, such as “mobisodes”, mobile broadcasting, and the Internet, there may be a favourable effect in fact in terms of the accessibility of Canadian programming. So it's important that the traditional television channels, especially the CBC, be subject to meaningful Canadian content requirements, in our opinion, given that the content may then appear on multiple platforms.
In 1998, the CRTC created a sweeping exemption order for all new media that exempted broadcast services from regulations of Canadian content for the entire libraries of programming they would offer through the Internet or on mobile platforms. ACTRA is recommending to this committee and to the CRTC--and we are recommending to the CRTC--that it must revisit and revoke its new media exemption order. ACTRA urges this committee to support that recommendation to Parliament, and we urge the government to direct the CRTC to carry out a review of its new media policy and revoke the exemption order it made.
In fact, there are clear precedents as to how new media platforms indeed can be regulated. In Europe, the European Commission adopted a new directive called the audiovisual media services directive, which distinguishes between linear and non-linear services. That directive in Europe called for content requirements for linear services that include both traditional broadcast and streamed audiovisual services on the Internet or on other new platforms.
Non-linear audiovisual services, such as video on demand--we call these non-linear--would be subject to a lighter regulatory regime under this directive, which also would not differentiate between the platforms.
Admittedly, in Canada as well, the CRTC has, to a limited extent, regulated non-linear services, such as video on demand, when offered by the broadcast distribution services--cable providers, in this case--to ensure that an appropriate level of Canadian content is available. We need that Canadian content to be protected through all of our broadcast media.
In summation, the need for a strong national public broadcaster--and I'm talking again now specifically about the CBC--is just as evident today as it was in 1929 when the CBC was established. It is apparent that our national public broadcaster must receive adequate, realistic funding to enable it to carry out its mandate in this 21st century.
We thank you, and we would be pleased to answer any questions the committee may have.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.