Canadian Heritage Committee on May 3rd, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Just on that point, if there are any written answers to come, send them to the clerk so they can be translated and sent to everyone on the committee. That would be great.

We'll go now to Mr. Brown for the final question.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know time is short.

I want to thank our witnesses for coming. I found a lot of what was said today very interesting, especially some of the things about bias at the CBC. It's interesting to note that just a week or so ago, they admitted to a Photoshop-doctored photo about smokestacks. So that's interesting timing.

I know we've only got a couple of minutes, so I'd like to hear from both of you. We're doing this study, and we've heard from many witnesses. There are committee meetings going on across the country. What are the things both of you want to leave with us to have the most impact on our report, which we'll be doing in due course? When we think back about what both of you said, what are the two key points each of you wanted us to be left with?

[Renaud Gilbert]

Since I am answering first, spontaneously, I am going to be parochial. I believe that Radio-Canada's mission in terms of news is a mission that should prevail over all others. I say that because the quality of democratic life and a quality of life for every citizen depends on it. That is extremely important to my mind. Moreover, we must not hide the fact that the role of the ombudsman is that of a counterbalance. The ombudsman intervenes to establish guidelines and to ensure information is of high quality. In the end, it is a public service. If you put something in the act, it should be to facilitate the ombudsman's role. If I wanted to leave you with something, that is what I would leave you with.

[Florian Sauvageau]

I'm joking, but I'll give you a 30-second, made-for-television clip. Private television is linked to the market. Public television should be linked more and more to democracy. The way to link public television to democracy is through distinctiveness: the blue fish among the red ones.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

That's what we really see in other countries. Even in the province of Ontario we have TVO, which in my view does an excellent job of delivering shows with--

[Florian Sauvageau]

Yes, but the problem with TVO is the same as the problem with Télé-Québec: their audience is so small and the appeal is not broad enough. CBC should not be a kind of TVO or Télé-Québec. They should find another niche.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

What is that niche?

[Florian Sauvageau]

Ask them.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

We're the ones who are going to be writing a report to make some recommendations. That's why you're here.

[Florian Sauvageau]

I think you should emphasize how they could be different and perhaps give some examples.

Sports television, for example, has improved the quality of the French language in Quebec. The Radio-Canada announcers were so good that they found terms in French to describe hockey games. Before, we were using English terms. They made super descriptions of hockey games, which is not the case any more now that--

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Are you maybe talking about the spinorama? Do you remember that Serge Savard used to do the spinorama?

I thought maybe you were talking about that kind of hockey term.

[Florian Sauvageau]

This is a an example that also shows that public television doesn't have to be at all elitist.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you very much.

I have have one thing I need to have clarified. As we've travelled around I have asked a question about BBC. It keeps coming up. BBC, as you stated, has no advertising. I'm told it does have some advertising. Am I right that they do have some advertising, or do they not?

[Florian Sauvageau]

No. The BBC is attacked because they are involved in many commercial operations abroad, with all sorts of things, but the main network doesn't have advertising. Those who attack the BBC say that because they are involved in commercial operations with commercial networks and all sorts of things--but that's mainly abroad--they have developed a commercial philosophy that is undermining their public service philosophy. I assume that's the difference people are talking about.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Okay. Thank you very much.

I thank you both for being great witnesses here this morning, and I thank you for your answers to the questions.

We'll recess for a couple of minutes and then we'll get to our committee business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

We have a notice of motion from Ms. Keeper:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage review the appointment of Mr. Timothy Casgrain as Chair of the Board of the CBC-Radio Canada.

Would you like to speak on the motion, Ms. Keeper?

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Given the fact that we're currently undertaking a CBC mandate review, I thought that this would be an extension of that. It's a good exercise for us to participate in, I think, in terms of the work we're currently doing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

I've just been informed by the clerk that I'm to ask you to move your motion.

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

I move my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Now you can talk about it.

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

Thank you.

Do I have to restate it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

No. Thank you.

Would anyone else like to speak to the motion?

Mr. Warkentin.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I certainly agree with the intent of the motion. I do believe that Mr. Casgrain should come to our committee and share with us. Obviously we want to review and ensure that we hear from him.

I'm wondering if I might make a friendly amendment to replace the Standing Order from 108 to Standing Order 110(1). I think that's a more traditional Standing Order for this type of intervention.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

That's a friendly amendment.

Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I understand my colleague's interest in this. I think Standing Order 108 is fine. Right now Mr. Casgrain is just a nominee. Right now he's Joe Public. I think it's a good time to have him come, before he's been gazetted and made official. One of the principles of accountability we talked about regarding appointments is the ability of the committee to vet a person before they are appointed. We would be wanting to see Mr. Casgrain before he is made official, to allow us to ask some questions.