Yes.
Evidence of meeting #31 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was study.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #31 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was study.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
It will depend. You have to look at the objectives. What do we want? We want to see more Canadian content creation. Mr. Champoux obviously talked about Quebec content, and there will be more.
Through the objectives, we're going to make sure that we hear more of the various voices, the indigenous voices. Maybe we can't do it through mandatory distribution, but maybe we can do it in a different way: we need to hear more of the two official languages and other languages. We need to find ways to continue telling our stories. This money will be used for that. One billion dollars a year is nothing to sneeze at.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
No, it's a considerable amount of money. It can create Canadian content and a lot of opportunities to share our stories.
Does the department already have an idea of how this money is going to be distributed?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Julian, I will answer your question more directly.
The objectives are clear. There will be more money for indigenous production and for marginalized communities, among others, in both official languages and in other languages. Then there will be consultations and projects will be set up. The important thing is to secure that money.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I understand. Sometimes the department makes estimates so that they can...
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Ripley, is there anything else you would like to add?
4:20 p.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
We studied how the CRTC currently imposes obligations on broadcasters, and we've done some calculations to come up with the figure.
The vast majority of the revenue is tied to the obligation to contribute to the production of Canadian content.
As the minister mentioned, we already know that, as part of the licensing process, broadcasters are asked to contribute to dramas, children's programming and documentaries, for instance. We anticipate that will factor in to the deliberations.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative John Nater
That's two and a half minutes.
Thank you, Mr. Julian and Mr. Ripley.
Next, we have Mr. Waugh and Mr. Perkins, for five minutes.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
One billion a year. I've been on this committee now for a number of years, and I've never heard that figure, never, never. Where are you getting that money from?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
It's the first time I've heard it too, Mr. Waugh, you're right. The figure we were working with before—and I'll ask Mr. Ripley to comment afterwards—was $830 million, but the fact is that with COVID happening, we went more and more to streamers, right? I'm sure you did too. We all did.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
I've heard about $800 million, and I had trouble with that number, but I have a bigger problem with a billion.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
The fact is that there were more and more streamers who were used, and then the fact that you had Disney and others that came in, which added to the number.
Owen.
4:20 p.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes, that's a revised figure, Mr. Waugh. We previously discussed the $830 million. We recently updated that figure. We have seen a growth of these services over the course of the pandemic, obviously, and we've also seen the entry of new services into the Canadian market, for example, we saw the launch of Disney+ and Apple TV+. That new figure takes into account the growth of online streaming services in Canada and their updated subscriber base.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
We can't even get APTN here to testify. When I look down the way to my left, it actually gets carriage fees. Everybody in this country has APTN, and everybody in this country is paying for APTN. There is a revenue stream for APTN with diverse stories. There is a revenue stream for The Weather Network. Everyone pays for that, and [Inaudible--Editor] television. We all know that, but when I talk about traditional broadcasters, Bell—the biggest media player in this country—was upset, because now, all of a sudden, because of the streamers, it might have to pay a little more for American shows that it shows from 7 to 10 p.m. in prime time. All of a sudden, it can't generate as much revenue, because the streamers are competing in Hollywood for American shows.
Have you thought about the traditional broadcasters crying, like Bell Media did? When it only spends $1 billion on Canadian programming, and hardly any of it in prime time from 7 to 10 p.m., shame on Bell Media. You talk about diverse stories. Traditional broadcasters can't wait to get on the jet to Hollywood to buy American programming, and give little to Canadian programming.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Waugh, if you think we need more Canadian programming, I'm with you—
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
A hundred per cent. That's why you should support the bill.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
I just heard Bell say they might spend $10 billion on shows. I don't know what they spend. They wouldn't answer my question on that. They're busy buying NFL football for Sunday afternoon.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
This bill will make more Canadian content available.
I'm sure we want the same thing. We may not agree on other stuff on this, but I'm sure you want more Canadian content. This bill will provide more Canadian content.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
I'm not sure about that, but we'll go to Mr. Perkins.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
It will. I'm sure you're going to vote for it at the end of the day.