Official Languages Committee on April 15th, 2008

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

It is public television, and the government should invest more money into it, so that it may reflect reality. I agree on that.

[Richard Stursberg]

We are under-funded. If you compare CBC and Radio-Canada to other public broadcasters throughout the world, aside from PBS, we receive the least funding. We know that Americans do not have the same cultural problems we have. The issue of francophones and anglophones is moot. If you compare CBC funding to that of the BBC, in proportion to the population, the BBC receives three times more money than we do, and that is to broadcast in English only.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

We have already stated that the government has a responsibility towards the public broadcaster. That's already been said. But in this case, we're dealing with something else. We are strictly dealing with a singer.

[Richard Stursberg]

I understand, but increased funding would certainly make decisions easier. That is obvious.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Godin and Mr. Stursberg.

Mr. Coderre you have the floor.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Stursberg, based on your attitude this morning, I understand why people are feeling insulted. The CBC is not a private corporation, it is public. That is the law. It is a corporation which has a very specific mandate to represent Canada. From the start, every time you've spoken, and I'm trying to hold back here, I felt I was listening to music from the Titanic because you seem to be sinking fast. I hope the president of CBC/Radio-Canada sees what your attitude is here today. If I were in his position, I would call you to my office and we would have a little chat, that is for sure.

Who made the final decision as to editing for this television show?

[Richard Stursberg]

We did.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Ultimately, you are therefore responsible.

[Richard Stursberg]

Yes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Do you know Pascale Picard?

[Richard Stursberg]

No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You should, because she sings in English. She is a beautiful Quebecker who won a Juno last weekend. Anglophones like her very much. Do you know why they like her more and more? Because she was seen on CBC. That is how things work.

Are there any marketing studies which demonstrate that anglophones change channels when they see francophone artists? What do you base that comment on? Is it because they do not come from Toronto? Have you listened to yourself speak?

Do you have any marketing studies which you could table before us today showing that that is how market segmentation works? When a francophone appears on English television people change channels, unless it's poutine or Mitsou. Do you have any of these studies? What are you basing this on?

I know that you used to work for Telefilm Canada. You know this country's cultural sensibilities. You have contributed to film financing, and you know the effect films can have, from a cultural standpoint in Canada and throughout the world. What was the basis for your stating that anglophones change channels when they see a francophone?

[Richard Stursberg]

My experience. As you know, I financed many French-language films when I was at Telefilm Canada and we had huge blockbusters. I mentioned some of these films to you this morning.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You did not finance them, that was taxpayers' money.

[Richard Stursberg]

There's something that is important here. There was Seducing Dr. Louis, The Barbarian Invasions, and a number of others. What I was struck by is that we had great success. We accessed 25% of the francophone market with these films when I was at Telefilm Canada and—

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You are going off on a tangent. You are the witness and you are here to answer my questions.

On what basis did you make this decision? Do you have any studies which show that when there are francophones on CBC TV, people change channels?

[Richard Stursberg]

When we put out films with English subtitles, including the great Denys Arcand film which won the foreign language film Oscar, anglophones did not go see it. That is a problem—

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Excuse me, Mr. Stursberg. So, if I'm understanding you correctly, at the end of the day, you edit because you don't believe anglophones will tune in.

[Richard Stursberg]

You asked me on what basis we made our decision, whether it was on marketing studies—

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

The answer is no.

[Richard Stursberg]

—or our judgment.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

So it is based on your judgment.

[Richard Stursberg]

I must say that it is based on our judgment and our experience.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

It just so happens I am the critic for the official opposition in matters of heritage, official languages and the francophonie.

You have not passed your test here today. The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will call CBC/Radio-Canada and its president. My colleagues should make sure they go a little deeper. Indeed, if this is the way the vice-president views francophones, I would like to know what the president of the CBC/Radio-Canada thinks of this attitude.

That is the first point.

[Richard Stursberg]

It is not a—