Thank you.
Good morning, members of the industry committee. My name is Maureen Parker, and I'm the executive director of the Writers Guild of Canada. Sitting next to me is Rebecca Schechter, president of the Writers Guild and professional screenwriter. The Writers Guild welcomes this opportunity to appear before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
The Writers Guild is the national association representing more than 2,000 professional screenwriters working in English-language film, television, radio, and digital production in Canada. We regularly advocate for a strong broadcasting system before the Canadian heritage committee and the CRTC. We believe that Canadians must have the choice to watch high-quality Canadian programming on our airwaves.
The impetus for this review was the Speech from the Throne, which discussed a plan to open the satellite and telecommunications industry to foreign capital. This was in response to public demand for improved telecommunication services at lower prices. Screenwriters are consumers too, so we share these concerns, but we are not convinced that easing restrictions on foreign ownership will guarantee consumers lower prices and better services.
The government has assured this committee that it does not intend to touch broadcasting; however, given the consolidation and convergence that has taken place in our media landscape in the past few years, we do not see how this could be possible. For example, Rogers owns wireless, Internet, cable delivery, and broadcasting stations. If a foreign company gained control of Rogers Communications it would gain control over its subsidiaries: Rogers Telecom Inc., which also owns Rogers Wireless Inc.; Rogers Media Inc., which owns the radio and television businesses, as well as the magazine publishing industry; and Rogers Cable, which offers Internet and telephone services in addition to cable. Foreign ownership of the parent company would disqualify the subsidiaries from owning their Canadian cable and broadcast licences.
Even if it were possible to permit foreign investment into integrated media companies, there would still be potential risks to the broadcasting assets in these companies. Investors tend to make decisions based on international corporate agendas. This makes perfect sense, but can leave domestic businesses in jeopardy. If a foreign owner decides that its Canadian asset is underperforming in comparison to the balance of its global assets, it could sell off that asset or cut its services in the name of efficiency. In our sector, broadcasting assets are the most vulnerable because they have a much lower profit margin than telecom or cable.
Rebecca.