Canadian Heritage Committee on April 1st, 2008

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for being here today, Mr. Caron. Listening to you really gladdens my heart. Since we began this study, several witnesses have come through here. Most of them have said that the present system of "regulation" works very well, that there was no need for a new way of doing things, that the bill was censorship and that, when all is said and done, there was no use creating a problem where none exists.

I mentioned that one and a half million people signed the petition, showing that the public is concerned about it. One witness particularly, who shall remain nameless, dismissed that out of hand. He said that, a million and a half signatures or not, there was no problem.

What do you think? Is there a problem, or are we just deluding ourselves?

[René Caron]

If all a child sees are situations where people have no respect for each other and kill each other, if all he watches are violent films where everyone uses guns or knives to solve problems, he is going to believe that that is how problems are solved in real life. I think this is an insidious, unhealthy and anti-social influence. I think educating people would be a lot easier if things like that were broadcast at a time when kids are usually in bed, say 10 or 11 at night or later.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

So you think that regulation is necessary. Currently, any regulation is voluntary, which is not effective. You said earlier that about 80% of these broadcasts occurred before 9:00 p.m.

[René Caron]

That is correct.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Can we say that regulation is needed and that this bill deserves to be heard?

[René Caron]

In my opinion, it is needed. I did not come to give anyone orders, but if my suggestions were seriously considered, there would be no one happier than me. We are not asking for censorship, we are just asking that our children are less exposed to things that have an insidious and unhealthy effect on them.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Do you think that the CRTC should be responsible for regulating this?

[René Caron]

In this case, I think that the CRTC should operate using formal legislation.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

So the CRTC should amend the legislation.

The present complaint system is solely based on complaints from members of the public. Does it work?

[René Caron]

In my opinion, the system works slower than slow motion. You have to wonder whether they just ignore it, given what you see on television.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

OK. So you think that the complaint system is not very effective.

[René Caron]

It is not enough. I think the recommendations that we are discussing today, and that will soon be made public, will be a lot more effective than any complaint from Joe Public.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Do you think that Joe Public and his wife, or any parents in fact, are ready, or rather, able to file complaints? The figures show about a hundred complaints. Is that a realistic number?

[René Caron]

Madam, I tend to think that parents today...When a kid has trouble in school, I have noticed that, more frequently than before, the parents did too.

I have enough to do already persuading kids to think about what they are consuming without having to deal with the parents' problems too. If parents no longer send letters, it is because they really have given up. But if they see that some serious legislation has been put in place and broadcasters are being forced to comply, I think that that may give them hope again and let them go after visible and tangible results.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Results that would be closer to reality.

[René Caron]

I think so.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

You think that this famous hundred or so people are those who have had the strength to take on the system.

[René Caron]

Exactly. Absolutely.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Right. Thank you, Mr. Caron.

[René Caron]

No, thank you; that helps me to clarify my position.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Mr. Siksay, please.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for being here this afternoon, Monsieur Caron. I was also glad to hear before the meeting started that you received a warm welcome on the Hill today from your many fans who recognized you from your television career. I'm glad the day started out well for you here on the Hill.

I appreciate the presentation you made. I have visited the website and looked at the English document that's there for folks to take a look at. It's a very helpful document. There's sort of an elucidation of your comments around the concern that you don't see this as a question of censorship, but a question of regulating the time violent programming is available on television.

Is that the only kind of regulation you would support--when violent television is broadcast? Are you talking about other kinds of regulations around television programming?

[René Caron]

I think that if we improved the regulations governing the time when broadcasters can show those horrible things that are disturbing for everyone, not just children...Terrible things are happening in our society, that we did not see 25 years ago. There are street gangs attacking elderly people. It is unbelievable.

If we could stop terrible things like this being shown at dinner time to adults and children alike, it would be a very sensible, significant and obvious improvement in regulation, not just for children but for the public as a whole. Perhaps what I have just said may appear to some people to be very naive, but I say things simply and directly, even if that means some people do not take me seriously. I have plenty of respect. My life is based on respect, in fact, and I hope that they too will respect my opinions.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Monsieur Caron, right now there is what the broadcasters call a watershed period between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. when it's more open. Before that period, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., is there supposed to be some limitation on the kind of violent programming and sexual content offered? Do you not see that existing watershed period functioning at the present time?

[René Caron]

At that point, there is no doubt that it would essentially amount to censorship. If we take too strong a position and we ban the broadcasting of violent programs even during the night, that would definitely be censorship. If that were the case, it would frighten me.

My main goal is to protect children. At 2:00 a.m., children are normally in bed so that they can get up for school the next morning. Unless they live in a completely abnormal household, they would not be subjected to that. My concern is for the child.