Evidence of meeting #48 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 crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Welcome to the 48th meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, on March 23, 2011. We are meeting pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) to study the appointment of Tom Pentefountas as Vice-Chair (broadcasting) of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Welcome, Mr. Pentefountas.
Tom Pentefountas Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Thank you.
Conservative
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the committee.
Thank you for this opportunity to meet with you so soon after my appointment to the CRTC.
It is very hospitable of you. I appreciate it, and I thank you.
I was very honoured to be offered this appointment. It was with pride and humility that I accepted it.
No one can pretend to have all the answers when dealing with a sector like communications. I am confident that I will have numerous opportunities to work with you in a spirit of collaboration to find solutions to the challenges that await us in broadcasting and telecommunications.
My parents arrived in Montreal in 1963. Their knowledge of the two official languages was very limited, and they had received very little formal education. But they were ready to work hard, and for my brother and me, that was the main value they passed along to us. The key to success could be found in hard work.
Like many other immigrants, they settled in the allophone neighbourhood of Parc-Extension in Montreal. In 1976, they moved to Boisbriand, which was and probably still is 90% francophone. I experienced a cultural and linguistic shock, but the adjustment was eased by our national winter sport.
When the time came to pursue post-secondary studies, I studied in English at Concordia University, where I completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science and a minor in philosophy. I then studied in French at the University of Ottawa, where I completed a Bachelor of Laws.
From an early age, I became interested in Canadian history and Canadian identity. I have always been fascinated by Canada's linguistic duality and cultural plurality. Montreal gave me a coveted, if not unique, opportunity to gain an appreciation for the Canadian reality and its fragility. We only have to think of the commotions that took place in Quebec in the 1970s and 1980s and their impact on the national discourse.
These experiences exposed me to the many facets of the Canadian mosaic, including the visceral sentiment expressed in the need to guard and promote the French language and Quebec culture in the middle of an anglophone sea; the Montreal anglophone communities' desire to protect its language and the institutions it has built over the centuries; the culture of anglophone Canadians outside of Quebec; the challenges faced by the immigrant population and newcomers to Canada; and the easy access to American and European culture for those who have an interest.
I believe that the ability to move with ease from one culture and from one language to another is an essential attribute to act within the CRTC.
Through the experience that I have acquired over the past 20 years, I have become very familiar with the workings of administrative tribunals and what is involved in making submission. As a lawyer, I was trained to ask probing questions, to be thorough in my analysis of the evidence and to follow due process. I have dealt with intricate and technical issues, which required me to review thousands of pages of documentation that had nothing to do with the legal domain.
I also have a great deal of respect for the Canadian democratic process and the people like yourself who are active within it. An interest in politics and a desire to improve Quebec prosperity led me to join the Action démocratique du Québec. In 2007, I was honoured to be elected as the party's president. In that management role, I worked to achieve a consensus between the employees, party members, elected members and volunteers, despite their sometimes different interests and personal agendas.
Therefore, I come to the CRTC with these personal and professional experiences, as well as with my passion and commitment for this institution. I am particularly impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the CRTC's staff. The CRTC must tackle issues that are often complex. Its decisions can have wide-ranging implications and can sometimes be contentious. The CRTC has the difficult job of striking a balance between competing needs and interests, while never losing sight of the interests of consumers.
Canada's arts and culture sector employs more than 630,000 Canadians and contributes over $46 billion to our gross domestic product. Broadcasting occupies an important place within this sector and is a strong contributor to the Canadian economy. But it fulfils an even greater function through its promotion of Canadian identity, Canadian pride and Canadian values.
Since its creation, the CRTC has worked to achieve the objectives of the Broadcasting Act. Thanks to its efforts, Canadians have access to the highest-quality broadcasting content, on the platform of their choice, as well as the highest-quality communications products and services. This has been largely accomplished by setting Canadian content requirements that radio and television broadcasters must follow.
These regulations have enabled our artists to bring home Grammys, Brit Awards, and Victoire Awards .
We can't help but feel pride in our music industry's accomplishments in both languages when our artists succeed abroad.
The CRTC has tried different approaches to produce similar results in the television industry. French-language programs are highly successful and attract large audiences in Quebec. English-language programs continue to face an uphill battle, given that they must compete with the entertainment giant located just south of our border.
That being said, we have the know-how to compete, as evidenced by productions such as Flashpoint, Rookie Blue, and Republic of Doyle. These are a few examples that we can follow in the near future. But what more can be done? I look forward to speaking to stakeholders to develop ideas and strategies so that Canada can take its place among the leaders of the global entertainment industry.
The CRTC must also support the development of our telecommunications system by achieving the objectives of the Telecommunications Act. One of the legislation's primary goals is to provide Canadians with access to reliable, high-quality services at a reasonable cost.
Despite the challenge presented by a small population scattered across a large territory, telephone and cable companies built expensive networks across the country. None of this would have been possible without companies that were willing to take huge financial risks.
With the exception of the national railway system of the 1800s, few industries have played such an important role in unifying Canadians. These networks are vitally important to Canada's ability to succeed in the knowledge-based economy. Broadband Internet networks are as essential to us today as the Confederation train was to an earlier generation.
This is not simply a business consideration. It is a vital question of national economic interest. We can ill afford to be left behind.
The communications industry is constantly changing. Convergence is on the verge of erasing the dividing line between broadcasting and telecommunications.
Consumers are getting more and more of their news and entertainment from the Internet and over mobile devices, and this content can originate from anywhere in the world.
Consequently, broadcasters have lost their captive audience in Canada.
Given this ability to access the content of their choice, on the platform of their choice, consumer expectations are growing.
How can we best support the creation and promotion of high-quality Canadian content in the digital environment? That is one of our greatest challenges. Moreover, to face this new reality, the CRTC must implement 25-year-old legislation. This is the equivalent of applying regulations from the Jurassic period to the 21st-century communications industry. There is no question that this digital environment requires different skills, approaches, and strategies. We need to be smarter, we need to be more creative, and we need to be more innovative.
The role of vice-chairman of broadcasting is one I take very seriously. I look forward to working with my colleagues and interested Canadians to define new concepts that will strengthen the CRTC's ability to regulate the world of communications while always keeping in mind the interests of consumers.
Thank you for your attention.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you very much, Mr. Pentefountas.
We'll have about 45 minutes for questions and comments from members, beginning with Mr. Rodriguez.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Good day, Mr. Pentefountas, and welcome to the committee. I am pleased to have you here. You are going to clarify some things for us.
Few appointments have raised as much protest or concern as yours. I would even say that, with this appointment, you are being more talked about than when you were with the ADQ in the recent past. That's normal, because this is an extremely important position. It affects a lot of people directly and indirectly and concerns the future of broadcasting and culture more generally.
When we look at the position, the related criteria and the required experience, and we look at your resume, we don't see many ties between the two. Nevertheless, you still put forward your resume.
Did you submit your resume yourself? Did people in the Prime Minister's Office or elsewhere ask you to submit it?
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Mr. Chair, first, I would like to thank the honourable member for that question.
To respond to your first question, I must say that there is no reason for you to worry. With regard to the offer of employment as such, I mentioned that I wanted to serve and I offered my services.
Liberal
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I was contacted by a friend whom you know. I had already applied for another position, and when this competition opened, that individual contacted me and I of course expressed my desire to take part in the competition.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Who was this friend whom I know? I know many of your friends.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I am referring to Mr. Housakos.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
You looked at the notice and nonetheless decided to apply!
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Yes, of course.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That is a broad question. I think I am contributing three main things, the first being legal rigour. Interveners must be given the chance to think and believe that we are listening to their arguments and their submissions. I have lived through that, and I understand the sacrifices made by the people presenting the arguments and who have to find the right word. I also understand that we must be in a position to justify our decisions at the CRTC and that even if people are disappointed that we did not accept their point of view, at least they understand the logic and overarching interest behind the decision.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Pentefountas, those are general qualities. I don't doubt that you have them. It is highly likely that you do have them, but I am reading the document, which is highly specific. This notice calls for experienced and specific knowledge that are not linked to your experience, in my view. Don't be offended, it's not linked to you and your past.
I will read some of the qualifications required. There is mention of considerable knowledge of the legislative framework and mandate of the CRTC, knowledge of the regulatory environment in which the radio broadcasting and telecommunications industries operate in Canada and abroad, and knowledge of major issues linked to media convergence.
I could continue, Mr. Pentefountas. What in your résumé matches this profile?
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The document mentions 25 criteria; I looked at it just this morning. First of all, it calls for knowledge, not necessarily expertise. In communications in general, and radio broadcasting, I believe that someone who was an expert 20 odd years ago is not necessarily an expert today. The industry and environment change almost every day. You need the ability to predict where we will be in the near future, understanding of the role played by the CRTC and radio broadcasting as regards consumer protection, the national economic interest, and the need to maintain and promote a Canadian identity. We must take all those things into account.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Mr. Rodriguez, we have to vote during this hour. We do not have much time.
Ms. Lavallée.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
As you said in your presentation, you were offered this appointment by Conservative senator Housakos, who called you. When did he call you?
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
He did not call me. That is not exactly the way the appointment was offered—
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
He didn't offer it to me.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
That's what you said. You said: "I was very honoured to be offered this appointment [...]"
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The appointment wasn't being offered. There was an offer, a competition that had opened up... I believe that was in the spring of 2010 and—