Canadian Heritage Committee on April 24th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Mr. Scott.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Hello and welcome.

I come from New Brunswick, and I understand how important Radio-Canada is for francophones outside Quebec.

I think there's also an alliance we would have as New Brunswickers, independent of just the language question. Absent the CBC, even in the capital of the province of New Brunswick we would not see ourselves on the suppertime news; we would be watching ATV out of Halifax. It would give us some coverage, but certainly not what we have come to expect from the CBC.

So I think there's a broad question about not only seeing ourselves on a national public broadcast, but also wanting the rest of Canada to see us in ways that are unique to our regions. In the example from Acadie in Moncton and Radio-Canada, that's obvious, but it's not unique to that. I think there's a broad issue there.

The problem we will have is how to deal with the arm's-length relationship with a public broadcaster. I think we share a view that resources are a problem. It's less difficult for me perhaps than for some of my colleagues, but in order to generate consensus in the country to support the CBC to the extent necessary to meet the mandate spelled out in the Broadcasting Act, there are certain expectations.

In our case it would be regional. The Radio-Canada side should have many of the same concerns—perhaps not as vividly as you would express them. Because Radio-Canada has a presence in Moncton, Acadie is served the best, outside of Quebec, in French-speaking Canada. Regardless of that, there would be certain expectations for that expenditure. Yet because we're politicians and there's an arm's-length relationship, it's hard to say, “We will increase the budget of CBC, but here's what we expect for that.” What happens if we don't see it? What happens if we don't have an increased budget for local suppertime news or the kind of service you expect?

[Sylvain Lacroix]

That is a complex issue and debate. I do not believe politicians should tell Radio-Canada what to say or what to do. I understand that. I believe that, given the fact that Radio-Canada is a Crown corporation without necessarily being state controlled, but it is state funded, we should set out clear guidelines.

For instance, out of a $1 billion-budget, Radio-Canada should be compelled to invest $100 million in local programming, like TV films or news. In telling Radio-Canada to invest locally and regionally, we are not telling the corporation what it should do; we are simply creating guidelines to make sure it serves the communities.

There is another distinction to be made. Radio-Canada directors are not necessarily artists; they administer budgets. Politicians do not tell artists what to do nor what to say. They tell directors should to spend the funds. I believe this would somewhat address the regional service issues for Radio-Canada.

I would be surprised to see this happen over the next few years. Perhaps Radio-Canada's mandate as to what it has to offer all Canadians should be clarified. That said, the current political situation will probably not be easily resolved.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

You mentioned artists. Most of the interventions so far have been around information programming--news, seeing yourself in the.... What about drama? Expand a little, just for the record, on the importance of the role of drama in telling those stories, in addition to information.

[Sylvain Lacroix]

TV drama is extremely important, specifically on the francophone side, because it is a reflection of our reality. Some Radio-Canada TV movies changed people's lives because they were a reflection of our past. I'll give the example of Séraphin, in Les belles histoires des pays d'en haut and Temps d'une paix. These two telefilms were very important for Quebeckers and for people outside the province. They explained how we became who we are today.

Why do people say that you cannot produce a good francophone TV movie in Toronto or in Vancouver? TFO did. It is currently working on a 12-episode TV movie in the Sudbury area, with Franco-Ontarian and Quebec artists. This type of thing will lead to the development of relationships between Quebec artists, who are exceptional, and newer artists from francophone minorities in other parts of the country, and we could help in the development of these newer artists.

Mr. Scott, does that answer your question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Ms. Bourgeois.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

In your brief, you said that when it comes to funding the public broadcaster, you would like the corporation to continue to sell advertising to fulfil its mandate, knowing full well that they have a small budget.

In Northern Ontario, would you be prepared to pay more for cable operators which broadcast francophone programs, or would you be prepared to pay more for the SRC?

[Sylvain Lacroix]

That is an interesting question. The people who spoke before you gave me some food for thought. I don't understand, I must say I am astounded. I pay $54 per month and out of that I am being told that no money goes to the Société Radio-Canada, which is the francophone network I watch most often.

I do not think that we should have to pay more. Rather, this money should be redistributed to those who are entitled to it. I watch Radio-Canada 80% of the time although I get almost 40 channels.

Why wouldn't $21 out of the total amount go to the Société Radio-Canada? I know that I may seem a bit excessive and that my examples are a bit simplistic, but the money is there, it is just not being redistributed properly.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

This leads me to the issue of partnerships. You supported creating partnerships, specifically when it comes to Franco-Ontario educational television. You would like to see more partnerships with the Société Radio-Canada.

[Sylvain Lacroix]

Before I defer to my chairman, I will give you an example. Francophones outside Quebec have a religion: the Montreal Canadians. Radio-Canada would lend its time and RDS would broadcast Montreal Canadians hockey games to francophones outside Quebec. Today, they are no longer being broadcast outside Quebec.

The upcoming Vancouver Olympic Games will be rebroadcast by TQS. Francophones who do not get that signal will not be able to watch the games. Should Radio-Canada not, as the national broadcaster, lend its signal without charge to francophone regions where TQS is not broadcast? These are important events. Young Franco-Ontarians will be participating in the Olympic Games, yet if you live in Sault Ste. Marie or in Vancouver you will not be able to watch them on a French channel. That is one of the main partnerships.

Pierre, I'll let you talk about our education-related partnerships.

[Pierre Bélanger]

Our educational programming in Ontario could certainly work with Radio-Canada in several areas. It has won international awards and has produced excellent teaching material.

Clearly, we have to be creative and increase direct state funding, while ensuring that we do not increase advertising-related funding. The danger is to go for short-term gain. If we do not start thinking medium and long term, we may well kill off cultural partnerships, like film partnerships in Quebec. That would be setting a dangerous course.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

I have a really hard time following you. What I am hearing does not make a whole lot of sense. At times, you seem to be taking a step forward and are requesting measures to protect your francophone identity. To do so, you need French-language television shows produced by Radio-Canada in Quebec. However, you want to have—

[Pierre Bélanger]

That is precisely the issue: shows should not be solely produced in Quebec.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Your spoke about the series Un homme et son péché, which is a typical Québec television series.

[Pierre Bélanger]

That is an example from the past. Franco-Ontarians also produced the FranCoeur television series, which was a great success. The series was so good that it was even broadcast on the national network.

Quebec productions, such as Les Beaux Dimanches or other shows, have played a very important role. What we are proposing is that we be given the room to develop our industry. We want to be partners, not just consumers. Like the people in the Rouyn-Noranda and Gaspé regions, we do not want to simply receive things that are developed in Montreal; we want to become stakeholders. There are also people with things to say and gifted artists in the regions. Victor-Lévy Beaulieu has been a champion of this cause.

[Sylvain Lacroix]

It was simply—

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

You have to be careful when talking about Victor-Lévy Beaulieu.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

We have another committee following us. Mr. Abbott will have time for a short question, because we have to wind up by 11 o'clock.

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I have a very quick question, and it was prompted by my friend Mr. Scott asking about taking into account the Acadian community in New Brunswick.

When we did the study on broadcasting I was very interested in the facilities Rogers had for their nightly programming. It seemed to be well-developed programming.

Have you had any input from or discussions with Rogers about that nightly programming—which to the best of my knowledge is in English—and the possibility of getting French programming?

[Sylvain Lacroix]

First of all, we don't have Rogers in northern Ontario; we have Persona, and it's only in English. They focus on what we do, but they don't give us any time.

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you for that.

We will adjourn.