Evidence of meeting #26 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was classical.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you. Your time is up for questioning.
We now go to Mr. Coderre. I'm going to give you an extra little bit of time, because some of these people have had so much time.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
That's kind of you, Mr. Chairman. French Canadians and Quebeckers, of whom I am one, are very pleased with that rebalancing.
One ally, friend and colleague of ours, Mr. Don Bell, member for the riding of North Vancouver, adds his voice to that of everyone here in saying that I don't consider the CBC Vancouver Orchestra just a salon orchestra that gets together from time to time. I think it's an important orchestra. There is a sense of belonging and loyalty to it, and it would be important to think about restoring it. We should think that way every time. Fortunately, television viewers prevented Le Jour du Seigneur from disappearing. There's a question of belonging and loyalty. That's important, both for a radio station and for an orchestra, particularly since it's the last one, to consider the fact that you're not representing a company. You represent an institution that provides a public service. I can understand the diversity and multiplicity of genres, but I think you also have to show a certain balance and a certain restraint in certain decisions because of the symbolism and representative nature of that agency. Allow me to disagree with you. Like a number of people in Canada, I would respectfully ask you to review that decision.
I want to go back to the question of public services. I would like to hear Mr. Lafrance from time to time. Earlier you said that CBC Radio 2 is a public service and that you want to ensure that everyone can have it. I would like Radio-Canada to have the same reflex. Sometimes French Canadians, Acadians or people from outside don't get the same service. La Soirée du hockey is a very good example. There's no problem with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada; you can see that program everywhere. On the other hand, with regard to La Soirée du hockey, not everyone in the regions can afford cable.
How do you make decisions? Do you study ratings? I know you don't have the same funding methods for sports, because you have a consolidated fund as opposed to a dedicated fund. Doesn't that trouble you at times, Mr. Lafrance or Mr. Lacroix? We're sports junkies. I'm not just thinking of La Soirée du hockey. Sometimes I get the impression there's a double standard for CBC and Radio-Canada. I feel like a second-class citizen.
4:55 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Mr. Coderre, I hope you don't really feel that way. I'm a francophone as well. I was also disappointed to lose La Soirée du hockey from Radio-Canada's airwaves. Like you, I was used to René Lecavalier and Richard Garneau. Those voices were part of my everyday life when I was a child. However, you have to understand that it's not because Radio-Canada didn't want to broadcast La Soirée du hockey. In a competition in which the hockey people decided to set up an auction, we never had a chance to make a bid to bring La Soirée du hockey back to Radio-Canada. We lost it in an auction that was won by RDS. It's not because we didn't want to keep it at Radio-Canada.
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
I think they signed a contract for five or six years. We can do nothing in that case. When the contract is reopened, we'll see whether bringing La Soirée du hockey back to our network is one of our priorities.
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Of course, sir.
5 p.m.
Liberal
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
That's always a major question that comes up in comments made on the gala. I'm a francophone—
5 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
I'll stop you right there. I won't be talking about the gala because, on May 27, you'll be testifying before the Standing Committee on Official Languages, on which I sit. Decisions have been made.
Generally, when you watch Radio-Canada television and you see an anglophone artist, do you change the channel?
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
If you're asking me the question as an individual, the answer is probably no. That also depends on the person who's on screen and whether I'm interested in the subject.
5 p.m.
Liberal
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Exactly.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Do you believe that a general interest television network includes a news service?
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Take the example of Radio-Canada: the news service there is very important.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
What's your reaction to the TQS situation? Obviously, at some point there will be in-depth discussions about the future of general interest television. We know we'll have to adjust to specialty services. Thank God we have to invest and continue to support Radio-Canada and the CBC. There's also the question of fees, cable operators' revenues. TVA will emphasize the fact that Radio-Canada is subsidized. I think you should take advantage of this forum, Mr. Lacroix, to give us your view on the matter.
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
On what exactly?
5 p.m.
Liberal
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Pardon me, Mr. Coderre, but is the purpose of your question to determine whether, in my view, our revenues are a significant factor in the context of general interest television?
5 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
I want to hear your point of view. Earlier you said that general interest television should include a news service. I'd also like to know what you think about the future of general interest television in view of what is happening with regard to the CRTC. The CRTC is independent, but, if the minister does her job right, she'll manage to overturn decisions. We think it's possible to determine an orientation without waiting for the CRTC.
5 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
A general interest television network like ours is constantly under economic pressure. Our revenue figures will be available soon. Advertising revenues are down approximately 7% or 8%. Our revenue base is shrinking, and we're facing some difficult issues.
Earlier you were talking to me about TQS. I'm not aware of the business model that the TQS people want to try to build. Like you, I read the news and I saw what they were doing. I understand the economic realities of the model they're dealing with.
I don't know whether Sylvain wants to add anything on general interest television.
5 p.m.
Executive Vice-President, French Services, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
In public policy terms, a fundamental issue will arise in the next 10 or 20 years, both for us and for you. That is the funding of aspects of television that represent a market failure, that is to say those that the market will not be able to support.
I'm going to take the example of Quebec because it's a smaller market and it enables us to see today what will happen in Canada as a whole in five or 10 years. General interest television networks are currently the ones generating the major dramas, called the high-cost series, and which have regional stations and news services. They are all losing revenue. Their revenues are melting away, whereas those of the specialty channels are increasing. If no one acts, the regional stations, news services and major dramas will decline.
The news about TQS merely confirms this. We predicted it a long time ago. The general interest television networks are the ones that create the news, the regional news more particularly, and the dramas. If funding sources aren't rebalanced now, our entire system could be weakened in the long term.
In fact, public and private services are facing the same problem, that is to say declining revenue. That's affecting us as well. In Quebec, we're headed toward a decline, even the disappearance of high-cost series, a reduction in news services and problems at regional stations. It's really a major problem for the television industry.
5 p.m.
Conservative