Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 28th, 2011

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

If there was an area of one province.... Let's say it's Nova Scotia, where we have many people in my riding who can't get CBC from Halifax and are forced to get CBC from Charlottetown, a different province. So they don't really get their local news, particularly during the summer when they're at their secondary residences. Do you see this changeover helping that situation or would it have any effect at all?

[Scott Hutton]

Basically, they will be getting information from the channel they watch and the origination point they watch. That will not change with respect to the digital transition.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

We have recently held meetings regarding the impact of vertical integration with the broadcast industry. How will this affect the transition to digital? What are the impacts of vertical integration with regard to this transition?

[Scott Hutton]

What we've seen is in the context of the transactions, both the Shaw acquisition of Canwest and BCE's acquisition of CTV. The latter one is not concluded, so I'll just try to keep talking about Canwest and Shaw. In their case, what they have put forward is an aggressive transition proposal under the tangible benefits packages that they had to provide to us.

So this means that those companies have spread out and are aggressively looking at upgrading their analog transition to getting us to a digital platform. As mentioned earlier, Shaw will be providing $15 million to provide free digital satellite service to those who will lose service.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Great.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Armstrong.

Before our three witnesses depart, I believe Mr. Angus wishes to move a motion.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Given the fact that the CRTC has dropped their decision to open up the question on changing the regulations for broadcast stations and their obligations in regard to factual journalism or false and misleading journalism, I don't feel there's much point in our committee continuing with our proposed study. I think it would be pointless at this time.

I would like to bring it to committee and ask for unanimous consent that we drop this study.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there unanimous consent to allow the motion to be put, seeing that it's not on the orders of the day? Is there unanimous consent to proceed?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

You're not looking happy, Dean.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Go ahead, Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Given that it was Mr. Angus' motion, and we neither supported nor opposed it at the time, I have no problem with this, although I will say that it looked a far sight more exciting than what we are going to do that day.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Angus always has an interest in fair and balanced news. I know that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

It seems that there's unanimous consent to proceed.

We have a motion on the floor. The motion is to cancel next Monday's CRTC appearance with respect to their proposed study of the regulation concerning false and misleading news. We have the motion in front of us.

Madame Lavallée.

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

So, next Monday, we will be able to receive Mr. Pentefountas at our committee meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I'll address that in a minute. I just want to deal with the motion first. Is there any further debate on the motion in front of us? Seeing none, I'll call the question.

All those in favour of Mr. Angus' motion to cancel the CRTC's appearance? Opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

The motion is adopted.

Mr. Hutton, could you inform your colleagues that their presence on Monday next week is no longer required? I'll have the clerk follow up as well.

Mrs. Lavallée, did you have a question?

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

So, next Monday, there is a time slot available for Mr. Pentefountas?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes, that's a possibility. We have an hour to meet with representatives from the Department of Canadian Heritage and discuss challenges related to the implementation of the digital television transition. If Mr. Pentefountas is available to appear during the second hour, we will invite him.

Is there any further discussion?

Seeing none, I want to thank our three witnesses for their appearance.

I wish you all the best in the transition. Thank you very much.

This meeting is adjourned.