Canadian Heritage Committee on April 29th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Ms. Dhalla.

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

I would like to echo what Dean is saying. In my particular area as well, people such as Rogers are doing a great job of producing community programming. We have a great station manager, Jake Dheer, and I want to make sure that there is no conflict in that respect.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

It must be understood that the motion flows from a motion unanimously adopted at the National Assembly of Quebec. As far as I am concerned, I am referring only to community television in Quebec. If you wish to make an amendment to say that this not include CACTUS, however, that suits me fine; it does not bother me. But if you want to table another one in support of CACTUS, you could do that later, as Ms. Rubby Dhalla seems to wish. Instead of excluding CACTUS, it might be preferable to present another motion in that regard later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Perhaps I could provide some wording to the amendment, that “this motion applies to the community television networks in Quebec and is not intended to be seen as supportive of the CACTUS presentation or anything presently before the CRTC”.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Maybe I would not point to CACTUS but would say “supportive of any”—

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Okay, “any”; that's fine—“any other”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

We're just finishing off the motion here to make sure that we have the right thing.

Michael, could you read the amendment, please?

[Michael Dewing, Committee Researcher]

As I understand it, the first part of the motion is that the word “du Québec” be inserted after “les télévisions communautaires autonomes”.

Is this part of the same motion?

[An hon. member]

Yes.

[Michael Dewing]

Okay.

In English, it would be “Quebec's independent community television”; that's in the third line.

Then there would be another sentence added, that “this motion applies to independent community television in Quebec and is not intended to be seen to be supportive of any other positions before the CRTC”.

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

“Models”, I think, is better.

[Michael Dewing]

Models?

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Yes, or I would suggest “models/stakeholders before the CRTC”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Are we clear enough on the amendment?

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Read the last sentence again.

[Michael Dewing]

It is: “This motion applies to independent community television in Quebec and is not intended to be seen to be supportive of other models before the CRTC.”

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Let's say “models/stakeholders”.

[Michael Dewing]

Okay: “models/stakeholders”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

All those in favour, please signify.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Now, if we could read the motion with the amendment—

[A voice]

You could call a vote. I think we're okay with it now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Okay.

Does everyone understand, then, the motion as amended?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Our second motion, by Madame Lavallée, is support for Claude Robinson.

Would you like to...?

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I will now take a few moments to tell you a little bit about Claude Robinson, who is very well known in Quebec. He is an artist, a creator, who, some 20 years ago now, created a character named Robinson Curiosité. His idea was stolen by a large company, Cinar, a multinational based in Quebec and that produces animation films. You have probably heard of Cinar because of the pseudonym man scandal that exploded here, in Ottawa. And this pseudonym man scandal, it is precisely Claude Robinson who brought it to light because he was himself investigating into Cinar in order to prove that his idea had been stolen.

Claude Robinson no longer creates; he wears the title of artist, but he has not done anything for the last 14 years. He evolved into a lawyer, an investigator to defend his copyright. He has devoted himself full time to defending his copyright and he won before the Court of First Instance in September 2009 when a judge ordered Cinar and other large international corporations to pay him more than $5 million. These large corporations, that have a lot of money, appealed and Claude Robinson, 14 years later, once again finds himself defending the same cause, with the same duty to prepare, to investigate and to defend his rights, but without any money. In Quebec, a spontaneous fundraising effort gathered $260,000. Each member of the Bloc québécois donated $2,000.

There you have it. That is the story of Claude Robinson, who is the symbol of copyright and copyright royalties in Quebec, and I believe that he could become so for all of Canada, because these are Canadian rules that he defends day after day. I believe that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage could salute his courage and his determination.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Robinson has fought and is continuing to fight for the respect of his rights. He has shown great courage and continues to show great courage. I am in perfect agreement with my colleague. The Liberal party is absolutely in favour of this motion.