Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #19 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #19 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Quebecor Media Inc.
It's true that previously, we could do it in a regulated environment, like cable, where a licence was required. It's no longer possible to do that today.
3 p.m.
Liberal
3 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I'll be very quick. Thank you. Mr. Chair.
I have a question for Ms. Guay. I'm also very concerned about the results and the impacts of what will happen if we don't get this right and if don't get this very delicate balance correct within this bill.
You spoke about cultural sovereignty. You spoke about the need to avoid a race to the bottom. I would like to give you the final word. Can you talk about what we need to do, again, to prevent the race to the bottom, to ensure our cultural sovereignty and to ensure that we hit the balance we need correctly?
3:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
It's true. Some of the broadcasters today—and Mr. Péladeau said it many times—are asking for conditions to be reduced so they can compete better. In a sense, they are right that the conditions are unfair to them at present. We propose that online undertakings have to meet the same level of conditions rather than reducing the existing conditions.
If we lower the conditions for everyone, it is our artists, creators and local production companies that will pay the price, losing their jobs and contracts. Along with that, the Canadian public will no longer have access to our great Canadian productions. We'll have access to less diversity.
The economy will also pay the price because broadcasters will pay foreign production or other types of production that will not bring added value to our economy.
Another important aspect is the inability of our producers to hold copyright of their productions and thus market them internationally. If the exhibitors, both conventional and digital, hold all rights, producers will have no back end. This speaks to the ability of the CRTC to bring back the notion of terms of trade, which is another one of our recommendations.
3:05 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you. That's a good place for us to end, Mr. Chair.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
It most certainly is, Ms. McPherson. Thank you very much.
I want to say thank you to my colleagues for helping me out on that second round. I'm glad we got through it for reasons that are quite evident.
I thought our witnesses today were great. I'm glad we rescheduled. As a committee, we took the decision to reschedule after you were cancelled on that day. You were all great. I really enjoyed what you had to say.
Thank you to Ms. Guay and Mr. Skolnik from the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Ms. Noss from the Motion Picture Association-Canada, Mr. Lewis from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Madam Tabet from Quebecor Media Inc., and last, but by no means least, Mr. Péladeau. I always enjoy your input, sir. Thanks for joining us.
We are going to have to break for a bit and go in camera. Again, I thank our witnesses for joining us.
[Proceedings continue in camera]