Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 14th, 2011

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

I want to go back to the matter of Canadians wanting to see themselves reflected in the programming. I argue that it's part of the success of Dragon's Den, because people are seeing Canadians come forward with Canadian ideas and it's quite an entertaining show. I have to confess I watch it fairly often. I had a local constituent on it recently. It was in the newspaper. It raised the temperature inside the room at Dragon's Den. I know I was probably blushing a bit at what was being presented, but nonetheless it was a big story in Peterborough that we had somebody on Dragon's Den.

If you look at your programming, there's been a lot of success in variety shows. There are things like American Idol and Canadian Idol. You had great success when you auditioned for the lead role in the The Sound of Music, I believe. That was really well followed.

Are there any thoughts about that type of show, about providing a stage for Canadian talent to come forward, and allowing Canadians to interact with a show on the CBC and to actually say who goes to the next level?

[Kirstine Stewart]

The benefit of those shows lies in the opportunity to connect directly with Canadians. The best example of that in the last year was probably Battle of the Blades, in which you had skating clubs and communities from across Ontario coming to Toronto to watch the show, as well as people across the country voting for their favourites. You had Kelly from Saskatchewan, and you had people from across the country representing charities in their own provinces.

So reality programs create a great opportunity for us to have a dialogue with Canadians. We're careful when we select the variety programming formats we either make or pick up. They have to be of a certain quality and of a certain form to fit into the programming we want to make for Canadians. So we're pretty particular, and we make sure those programs are not exploitive and actually create an opportunity for a movement. For example, there is the Live Right Now show, Village on a Diet, set in Taylor, B.C.

So there are opportunities, but those are not solutions. Opportunities can create variety in a schedule, but we need to be able to be supportive of the scripted drama and comedy areas as well. That's a different kind of talent, and that's a fostering of something that would not be open to many people across the country without our being there.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Angus referenced some of the vertical integration and how that's changed the landscape. But one of the things that really seems to be prevailing--in fact, I'd almost argue that it's stronger today than it may have been a few years ago--is local radio.

You've actually taken a look at local radio and indicated that this is something you want to take a look at investing back into, but you're taking a bit of an innovative approach. You're talking about some web-based radio and so forth. Can you expand on that a little bit and see where you think some of the opportunities are for CBC with respect to radio?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

I think radio is essential to the extension of our presence in the regions. That's why, when you hear us talking about the extension of our services, we don't talk about the extension of a radio station. We're talking about local stations where you could see a multimedia platform, where you could see a regional web, plus a radio station or a new website supporting radio somewhere.

There's a question there in regard to what's available in terms of airwaves and the environment in which we are. There's a cost related to it, because opening a radio station and being present there is a different proposition for us than having people on the ground who populate a website for Canadians in a particular region to then connect them back to our major network. So you're going to see the radio network being the major conduit by which we will be in those regions.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Thank you.

I know that when you came here last time I asked you about Hockey Night in Canada. To me, it's a major flagship piece, obviously, for the CBC. Many people would argue that it's part of what defines CBC.

When you talk about partnerships, is that something where you would actually...? You've done this with the Olympics in the past; you've actually sought some private sector partners. It would seem to me that it would be a good opportunity for you to expand Hockey Night in Canada while keeping it within the fold. Is that something you would consider or perhaps are considering?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

Hockey Night in Canada is a very important piece of us and hockey. It's a very important piece of CBC. It's something that we're very proud of and it's an important brand for us.

You will see in the plan over the next years a commitment to ensuring that we solidify even more than we do now the connection Canadians have with that.

You saw Hockey Day on Saturday from Yellowknife. That's an example of how we take our brand on the road: hockey in the nation, with 3,000 kids in seven different communities in the country, hooked to hockey through Hockey Night in Canada. Yes, I'm very passionate about Hockey Night in Canada.

Yes, partnerships at a particular point in time are something we could be considering, but we want to ensure that we keep Hockey Night in Canada within CBC, because it's important for us.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Well, you've stuck with it for so long that I'd hate for you to abandon the space and then see the Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much, Mr. Del Mastro.

Monsieur Rodriguez.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In your strategic plan, you talk about increasing Canadian content, strengthening your regional presence and adopting a strategy to address new platforms. I would say you have checked all the right boxes, and I sincerely hope that all of this works out for you. Obviously, there are criteria for success. Everything will have to work together, to some extent, and the funding will have to be there. We talked about that earlier. It is important that the road not be littered with too many pitfalls or obstacles.

Has the CRTC already said that it was going to start the process to renew your licence?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

Yes, I believe the dates for that are September 13 to 25.

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

How much could that change or derail your strategic plan for the next five years?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

It is our hope that, like you, the CRTC will see that our strategy holds significant value for Canadians and that the recommended licensing conditions allow us to carry out our plan in its current form, as presented to you today in our document and video.

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

That is my hope, as well, but I have my concerns given the current government's efforts to take over the CRTC's control. I see it as somewhat of an ideological takeover attempt, meaning that the government is trying to appoint key people who share its views. And that is why I am concerned for you. But I am not trying to lure you into a partisan debate.

My concern is that, with the government pulling the strings, it will succeed in doing indirectly what it cannot do directly and be able to bring its friends into the organization. I worry that that could eventually have an impact on your licence renewal or the changes you will have to make to your plan. I want the licence conditions to help, not hinder, you.

Do you have anything to say about that, or would you prefer not to?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

The licence renewal process will start in September. We will do everything in our power to show the CRTC just how significant the strategic plan we presented is to us. We announced the plan on February 1^st, so that every Canadian would understand what the public broadcaster wants to do. You will see all of us here today giving many speeches and talks across Canada to explain the significance of the plan.

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

But the CRTC could still use the renewal process to throw a wrench into your plans.

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

The people at the CRTC are going to discuss the content of the plan with us, Mr. Rodriguez. Keep in mind that both sides need to agree to the conditions of the licence. They cannot impose conditions that we do not agree with.

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

If they try, you can call on the minister, can you not?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

There is a process through which both sides must come to an agreement on the conditions of the licence.

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

I hope it does not go that far.

Tell me something. August 31^st is fast approaching. Where are you in your digital transition?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

We continue to implement the plan we announced back in June. We are working to build 27 digital transmitters in all of the areas where we offer original programming and to meet the August 31, 2011 deadline.

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

Will you make it?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

Right now, that is our goal.

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

You are on schedule. Wonderful.

Could you elaborate on what you have in mind in terms of social media?

[Hubert T. Lacroix]

Yes. As you saw, the third thrust of our plan has to do with establishing a personal connection between Canadians and the public broadcaster. And that will happen within a space that we will create, where people will be able to exchange ideas on current affairs, such as the recent events in Egypt, or some other local, regional or Canadian issue. That connection will create spaces. We fully understand that social networks will greatly expedite the creation of those spaces and significantly influence the number of participants in the conversation.

At both Radio-Canada and CBC, we have a strong presence when it comes to social networks. That is why we are doubling our level of digital investment. We want to understand just how far this can take us. That said, I do not think you or I can predict what those networks will look like in two or three years.