Evidence of meeting #7 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 cbcradio-canada.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you for your answers, Mr. Lacroix. I wish you every success in your new duties.
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
Thank you very much, Mr. Bélanger.
Conservative
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like some clarification. You spoke about increasing advertising revenues. In concrete terms, does that mean there will be more advertising? Will people have to watch more advertising?
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
That's definitely not the primary objective I'm setting for myself in taking up the position.
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
No, that's not at all the case.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
In fact, I have two converging questions—the pun is intended. There is an overall budget for the Corporation. The CBC has its share and Radio-Canada as well. I saw that Radio-Canada got less money than the CBC and that, paradoxically, the CBC had lower ratings than Radio-Canada because, whether we like it or not, it's an English-language broadcaster, and people outside Quebec tend more to watch American programs than those of the CBC, necessarily.
Do you think that we should base budgets on ratings instead? Since Radio-Canada has higher ratings, it should have more money to do more things, on the one hand.
On the other hand, as you know, the Government of Canada has recognized that Quebec forms a nation. As you surely also know, we don't talk about multiculturalism in Quebec, but rather about interculturalism. We don't talk about bilingualism, but rather about French and the French fact.
Are you considering, for example, taking this specific characteristic of Quebec into account, even though Radio-Canada isn't just watched in Quebec, but also by Francophones outside Quebec?
Do you think it's important that the French side of the Corporation be able to reflect what Canada has just recognized, that is to say that Quebec forms a nation and that its people is different from that of Canada?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
There's just one correction on that. I don't think that's the term that was used. I think Québécois is a nation within a united Canada, so let's have that corrected.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Yes, of course, in a united Canada. We do a lot of playing with words here, sir.
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
What is the question, madam?
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
In programming, for example, are you going to take into account the Quebec distinction and the French fact? It's true that Radio-Canada broadcasts solely in French, but, in view of Quebec's nationhood, will you be setting aside the word “multiculturalism”, for example, since we in Quebec don't believe in it? Will programming be coloured by Quebec's cultural and identity-related distinction?
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
Your first question concerns what we do with the money, how we use it or something like that. I don't yet have any details on budgets; I'll meet with the management team in early January.
I understand one thing, though. I understand that Radio-Canada broadcasts in French and that CBC broadcasts in English, but that this is a business, and the network obviously recognizes that the issues are similar. The response and product delivery are different because we speak French and we speak English. We'll see in early January how the money will be used, how it will be distributed, and we'll respect the priorities that the management team has established.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
As for the other question, on taking into account the nation and the fact that Quebeckers are different, what do you have to say?
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
You're asking me whether we recognize that Quebeckers are different and that they speak French. I'll answer that Radio-Canada broadcasts in French.
Bloc
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
Personally, I understand that CBC/Radio-Canada also does a lot of things in other languages, on different platforms, and that it will continue to do so while I am President and CEO.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
What I understand is that CBC/Radio-Canada will convey the value of multiculturalism.
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
What I'm telling you is that CBC/Radio-Canada has a clear mandate under the act and that it will continue to carry it out.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Lacroix, where is Radio Canada International in your sense of CBC/Radio-Canada generally? Do you see an ongoing mandate for Radio Canada International? Is it a key part of the broadcaster?
Designate President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada, As an Individual
It's another very important platform right now that's being used. Again I look forward to getting the details on all the services we provide. Radio Canada International is surely one of them.