Evidence of meeting #15 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was content.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Spokesperson, Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS)
I just think we have to be really careful about network managing practices that would discriminate against Canadian content in the future. For example, from the point of view of the community sector, which is the open access, grassroots production tier, if you like, in the long term if everybody is watching television on the net, for example, we might need to ask ISPs to make free server space or something for communities to reduce the barriers to access.
So it's monitoring the way it develops over time, I think. Someone else here today said that it's a moving target. It's just to keep an eye on all these little factors that either help or hinder people from getting access.
12:55 p.m.
National Director, Canadian Conference of the Arts
That goes back to the comment of a previous witness. His name escapes me. He talked about the importance—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
It was Mr. Lévy, whose name translates into French as “redevance”.
12:55 p.m.
National Director, Canadian Conference of the Arts
That's very appropriate.
This goes back to what he was saying about the importance of ensuring that the gatekeepers play the game honestly and that a regulatory agency establishes fundamental principles. Regulation isn't necessarily a bad thing. It depends on the way it's applied.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
All right. Does the emergency of new media slow down content creation?
12:55 p.m.
National Director, Canadian Conference of the Arts
No, I believe it accelerates it instead. As I said in my presentation, it raises a lot of questions that have to be resolved, such as people's professional status, what applies to whom, rights, royalties and intellectual property.
I was asked the question earlier, but it was impossible for me to answer it in the circumstances. The fact remains that we should soon have a bill that we can deal with. Like all other participants, we'll then have the opportunity to make all the necessary comments.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
In your presentation, you talked about English Canada and Quebec. Where is English Canada located? Are Embrun and Shawville part of English Canada?
12:55 p.m.
National Director, Canadian Conference of the Arts
It's very hard to use a language that expresses the at times geographic distinctions that we would like to make. In this case, perhaps I could have said the francophone or anglophone markets. It depends on the subject. I've long been responsible for regional situations concerning francophones outside Quebec at Radio-Canada, and I'm familiar with the problems of language associated with certain subjects.
We could talk about predominantly anglophone markets. With regard to community television, they are in poorer shape than the francophone markets in Quebec, even though the latter leave a lot to be desired. I'll take this opportunity to say, regarding the description Mr. Simms gave of his community station and of his community's satisfaction, that I'm quite happy for them, but, based on the evidence we have on this matter, his situation is in the minority. I don't believe the people of New Brunswick would give that kind of evidence on local content, given that they now have only one station for the entire province.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you.
Thanks to our witnesses for their great presentations and great answers, and thanks to our committee for the good questions.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.