Canadian Heritage Committee on March 21st, 2011

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

It seems to me that this is something that has to be considered and done by legislation and not on occasion, as one side or the other chooses. Given that linguistic duality is firmly a part of the CBC's mandate, it seems to me that there should be statutory meetings. Maybe there are. I'm not sure.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

You know that Northern Ontario is a big place.

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

Yes, but I'm not talking just about you. It applies to francophone communities across the country. I think Radio-Canada has to strengthen its role in francophone communities outside Quebec.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

I read a recommendation in the Standing Committee's report from February 2008 for an office to be opened where we are in New Liskeard. Because they didn't have enough funds, that was set aside.

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

Have you read the five-year plan that the CBC has just submitted?

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

No, I haven't had a chance to do that.

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

It seems to place a lot of importance on the regional aspect, on Canadian content and linguistic duality, a presence in both official languages, that is. It seems to me that the CBC is moving in the right direction.

I hope it is going to have the funding it needs for those five years. It seems to me that it is moving in the right direction in that regard.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

As long as it isn't just lip service. For years we have been promised things and then we have been told that the budget wasn't big enough. That is what is a little sad.

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

Do you have any recommendations to make to the CBC?

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

I would recommend that it have more of a presence. Often, when I'm watching Radio-Canada, I see things going on in Timmins and Sudbury because they are bigger cities.

But there are things that happen where we are, too. For example, we have succeeded in hoisting the Franco-Ontarian flag in our municipality. What's sad is that neither Radio-Canada television nor Radio-Canada radio came to cover the event. It would have been very important to us for them to be there.

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

Of course.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

Of course, I complained. The answer I got was that for budget reasons, they couldn't be there. These may be details, but they matter to us.

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

Thank you, Mr. Carrière.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.

You have the floor, Ms. Lavallée.

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

Good afternoon, Mr. Carrière.

You recently said that a particular town is not part of your region. What is the central element of the region you represent.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

We are located on the shore of Lake Temiskaming.

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

Right.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

The adjacent area is the Témiscamingue region of Quebec.

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

Right.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

The lake is what unites us, whether we like it or not. It's sad to say...

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

Can you give me the names of the towns?

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

There is New Liskeard, which became Temiskaming Shores after the 2004 merger. There are Ville-Marie, which you know, Rouyn-Noranda, Kirkland Lake and North Bay.

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

Yes, but Rouyn-Noranda is on the Quebec side.

[Jean-Claude Carrière]

That's right.

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

And Ville-Marie as well.