Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 1st, 2021

[Kenneth Hirsch]

One hundred percent.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I thought that would be clear.

The next question I have is for Madame Messier.

We all understand that for everyone here it's essential that this bill include every major player of the cultural ecosystem in Canada to financially take part in the original Canadian content production. I know you've touched on this already with my colleagues, but could you speak a little more about why you think the Internet distributors have been left out? Should they be asked to contribute to the public programs, such as the Canada Media Fund, especially considering their important role in providing the public the very content we are currently debating?

[Hélène Messier]

I think that there are some major exclusions in the bill. We talked about social media, such as YouTube and Facebook, which broadcast a great deal of professional music and audiovisual content. We talked about digital distribution, which would make it possible to protect, for example, the broadcasting of TV5 and Unis TV on digital platforms. This would help OLMCs in particular.

There are also the services of Internet and mobile phone providers. We know that people now consume a great deal of audiovisual content on their phones and computers. They use a significant amount of bandwidth. The cable companies are already helping to fund programs. We know that there's an increasing amount of

cord-cutting.

People are currently consuming this content through Internet services or through their phones. We think that these providers should make a contribution. The Yale report said that they should be excluded. We don't agree with this. We think that they should be included, even if the CRTC were to decide, for example, for a few years only, to take information, to impose accountability obligations or to impose minimum obligations a little later.

I think that the act must cast the net wide. It must also look ahead and guide all the players in the field so that we can obtain the proper information and, ultimately, regulate their activities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you very much.

Going to our second round, we're up against the clock, so I'm going to have to go into overtime for a few minutes. I'm going to be fairly strict during this five-minute question round.

Mr. Aitchison, please go ahead, for five minutes.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I actually don't have questions about the specific presentation. I think it's well laid out, and your recommendations are very clear. As I have been listening, though, I've been thinking more and more about the digital age and what that means for Canadians and their choices. I'm not too sure which presenter would like to speak to this, but I guess it's going to give you an opportunity to make a few points that maybe you haven't made.

Are Quebeckers in general choosing fewer original French productions when it comes to consuming their media? Is there a general trend there, and can you speak to what's actually happening?

[Hélène Messier]

Quebeckers still watch a great deal of linear television and regularly tune in to their programs. As a result of the pandemic, significant audience records have been broken. We tend to think that television is dead and that everything will now be on digital platforms. I don't subscribe to that school of thought.

The CEO of Netflix said that his competitors were video games, social media and linear television. Netflix even created a live television channel in France because it had trouble attracting French-speaking audiences. I think that it's worthwhile to focus on platforms, which are major players in the field. However, I don't think that we should abandon television. Quebeckers still consume a great deal of their national productions.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Go ahead, Ms. Morin.

[Marie-Christine Morin]

In terms of the francophone communities in Canada, many people watch content on traditional television, especially since broadband isn't available everywhere. During the pandemic, all these issues made headlines. Some minority communities are unable to access broadband to view the content online.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

That point, Ms. Morin, is a very good one. I wonder if you can speak a little bit more to that. As we try to rapidly expand broadband Internet access across rural Canada, do you see this problem being exacerbated? Does Bill C-10 go far enough to address that?

[Marie-Christine Morin]

Broadband investments are certainly welcome. I think that we'll see this situation improve over the years. Clearly, people want to consume content online. We're seeing this with younger customers. Canadian francophone youth are no exception. They're also part of this strong trend.

To ensure a shift and access to digital content across the country, broadband investments are essential.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I don't really have much more than that. I really appreciate it. Maybe I've saved you a bit of time in your scheduling here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Yes, blessed is your soul, sir, as I'm running short on time.

Mr. Housefather, you have five minutes.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the people who are appearing before us today on behalf of the three invited groups.

You represent a vital part of Canada: linguistic duality and the importance of producing original content in French in Canada, in Quebec and, more specifically, outside Quebec.

Also, there's the importance of producing original English-language content in Quebec, because we have two official language minorities in this country, which people are forgetting too often these days.

I just want to assure the groups that I do support many of the amendments you have proposed and I will put them forward when it comes time for amendments.

I'd like to ask a couple of questions.

In the brief from the Quebec English-language Production Council, you mentioned that CRTC decisions have historically had very negative impacts on Quebec's English-speaking communities, and the trend is getting worse over the years.

Could you just give me a few sentences about that?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I'm sorry for interrupting Mr. Housefather. However, there isn't any interpretation. I believe that there's an issue with the equipment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I agree. It seems we're having a few issues. Everyone, just hold on one second.

I'm going to ask the interpretation to just interpret me as I speak. I'm assuming we're missing the French interpretation, or perhaps both, but certainly in the French because the conversation was happening in English.

Is it good now?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, based on what I heard from the interpreter, it was an equipment issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I am not getting interpretation right now.

Please wait a moment.

Apologies, everybody.

It appears the sound quality wasn't great enough to hear Mr. Housefather.

Right now, the interpreters are getting a high-pitched sound and therefore we can't move on with the microphone you have. Our IT person here is going to call you.

In the meantime, because we're always up against time, I'm going to ask Monsieur Champoux to proceed until we come back to you to see if we can find a solution.

Mr. Champoux, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sorry about all that.

Mrs. Morin, I think that you were the one who spoke about the discoverability issue earlier. I'd like you to elaborate on this issue. For official language minority communities across the country, I think that it's a sensitive and pressing issue.

How would better discoverability rules affect both online and traditional broadcasters?

[Marie-Christine Morin]

I'd say that discoverability and content development are related to the possibility of finding this content on the platforms. The major online platforms are making efforts. However, I think that close attention must be paid to the original French-language programs available here, if the goal is to promote them. Additional efforts must also be made to develop the programs and to make it possible for people not only to discover them, but also to access them more directly.

The amendments that we're proposing seek to add a reference in the act to this sensitivity, which must be taken into account in the broadcasters' conditions of licence. The content must have a place where it's easily identifiable and indicative of the situation in the ecosystem. This is important, because it will give us full access to this content. This must be taken into account. This aspect is part of the new environment in which we live. In other words, this content must be produced, but it must also be available for people to discover.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Do you believe that the cultural distinctiveness of Canada's French-language minority communities isn't well represented?

Is this also what you want to show all Canadians?

[Marie-Christine Morin]

It's certainly a concern in terms of the diversity of content.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you, Mrs. Morin.

My apologies. I have to go to Ms. McPherson now for two and a half minutes, please.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all our witnesses again.

I would like to ask that perhaps Madame Morin could continue and answer that question on which we, unfortunately, had to cut her off.

[Marie-Christine Morin]

Thank you, Ms. McPherson.

It's necessary to have a diversity of content. When we say that we want to see and hear each other, this goes to the heart of broadcasting. There must be original French-language productions that feature talent from French-language minority communities. These productions must also be brought to the attention of Canadians. This is obviously the ultimate goal.

[Martin Théberge]

I'd like to make a comment.

The whole issue of distribution is related to this. There's a production and development issue. However, Unis TV, for example, must be included in the basic package of all cable companies, whereas online broadcasters—such as EBOX and Apple TV—have no obligation to broadcast this channel or its content. Legislation is also needed in this area.