Evidence of meeting #8 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was advertising.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
But no province allocates a certain percentage for community radio.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Quebec has a policy whereby 4 per cent of the province's media buys must go to community media.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It was introduced about 12 or 15 years ago, when Mr. Parizeau was the premier. Even with this 4 per cent policy, and despite supporting statistics, community radio stations and media in Quebec do not obtain that amount, because it is a difficult concept for the planning agencies to grasp. We don't yet have the visibility. They take into account the BBM surveys, the high ratings, the mass media, and we are ignored.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Thank you, Mr. Paquin and Mr. Rodriguez.
You have five minutes, Mr. Harvey.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Pablo asked a question about the percentage. I would like to know how much it costs to operate a radio station?
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It costs about as much to operate a community station as it does to operate a private station, but there is absolutely no comparison to a government station, which is on another level altogether. In our stations, the same person can be a technician, a host, a researcher and a producer.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
You must not forget that there are always minimal costs, regardless of where the station is located. There is no way around it; you have to pay for your electricity, your transmitter, telephone service, etc.
There are, of course, large radio stations. For example, some stations have penetrated the market, such as Radio Beauséjour, which has 18 full-time employees. However, some stations don't even have one half of a full-time position.
I would estimate that it costs at least $100,000 per year, but once again, it is all relative. Your question is very vague, because you have a small station with a small radio, a small transmitter, low operating costs and a small facility.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It is not easy to answer your question, but there are basic operating costs.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
But it helps us to decide. We have to know how much we are working with.
If I give $500,000 to 20 radio stations, each one would get $25,000, which is, say, 25 per cent of their budget.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
On average, yes.
Chargee for National Development, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
That would help to pay for one employee.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It would almost be enough, because they don't make very much.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
On that we can agree.
I would like to refer to page 2 of your brief, where you say that funding should relate to demographic considerations. In other words, your problem is that you don't know how many listeners you have.
Is that it?
Chargee for National Development, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Some stations do know, because some of them subscribe to BBM surveys.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Why could the calculations not be based on the number of listeners rather than on the population?
Chargee for National Development, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
We tried to do that.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Currently, three radio stations are members of BBM and the ratings are extremely high. The radio station in Shediac, even though this is a bilingual area, has a rating of 54 per cent amongst francophones, which isn't peanuts. In Moncton, that radio station is the one that is the most listened to in the south-eastern region of New Brunswick. Radio Péninsule, Mr. Godin's radio station, has a rating of approximately 70 per cent.
However, those radio stations that are not members of BBM have to do their own surveys. That is impossible if you consider that a survey can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $30,000. When a radio station has a $150,000 budget, the cost of a survey can take up a fourth of its total spending.
For example, in Chéticamp, 98 per cent of the people listen to the community radio station. That is the only radio station that is listened to everywhere. You don't need to do a survey to find that out. All you have to do is go there, ask questions and go into people's homes in order to see that everyone listens to the community radio station.
However, it is a fact that if we don't have any numbers to give to the planning agencies, then we won't be included in any planning, which is unfortunate.
We are therefore suggesting that the principle of equivalence be used systematically for all campaigns, media, community newspapers, community radio stations, in order to keep the minority public informed.
Chargee for National Development, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Our radio stations broadcast in various regions where, unfortunately, there are many illiterate people. Therefore, many people will listen to the radio in order to get information about what is happening in their community, rather than read the newspaper. Those are the people we reach and that is why our penetration level is so high.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
A yearly budget of $71 million for advertising was mentioned. You are saying that $35 million is being spent. Does that mean that $36 million are spent on administration, or is that money...
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
No. We said that in 2005-2006, Treasury Board approved a $71-million budget for advertising. Over the course of that same year, only $33 million was spent. Therefore, about $40 million went back to Treasury Board or was used for something else.
Conservative