Official Languages Committee on March 16th, 2010

[Simon Forgues]

In a province like New Brunswick, one measure of audience loyalty to our community radio stations, in comparison with the CBC, allows us to see that more or less 110,000 people listen to our community radio stations whereas 4,000 people—and perhaps I am exaggerating—spend time every week listening to the CBC. That gives you an indication of the loyalty of the audience to community radio stations and to what degree they encourage them.

[François Côté]

I would like to add that that is why we work with the APF and the QCNA. In fact, we would like a study to be done on the ratings of our radio stations across Canada.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Fine.

[François Côté]

That is why this project is so important.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

You mentioned the CBC. I would like to know if you are competing against conventional radio stations like the CBC.

[Simon Forgues]

No. Our radio stations have no competition. The ARC's radio stations in Canada are situated in minority language communities. There are of course no other private French radio stations that exist where ours are.

Moreover, we cannot consider the CBC as a competitor. Their mandate and ours are quite different. We have never questioned the relevance of the CBC. That is not the issue. It serves the interests of Canadians very well as a beacon of Canadian culture and by informing people across the country. However, our radio stations are at the local level.

For example, CBC Manitoba is not exactly the place where you would find social discussion boards and things of that nature, compared to CKXL Envol 91 in Saint-Boniface. The mandate is completely different. For all practical purposes, competition does not exist in French for our community radio stations.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Are there problems in terms of advertising revenues?

[François Côté]

Locally?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Yes.

[François Côté]

Yes, it is rather difficult. Situations vary in our New Brunswick stations, for example. In some markets where radio is really number one, advertising is not a problem at all.

However, in a market like Saint John, Moncton or Fredericton, it is a bit more difficult because of the number of radio stations in the market. If you are the only one, it is a bit easier. CKXL is having difficulty in Winnipeg and Saint-Boniface because there are so many radio stations in the market. It isn't limited just to radio stations, but also newspapers, bulletin boards, and everything surrounding advertising. It is highly competitive and very difficult to get advertising—

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I understand.

[François Côté]

—without ratings to prove how many are listening to you.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Yes.

[François Côté]

It becomes a problem.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Yes. I like the idea of cooperating on that. Is my time up already?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, Ms. Glover. We will now go to Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

You mentioned Radio-Canada. Could you explain the figures of 4,000 and 110,000 people?

[Simon Forgues]

Those figures come from a study conducted by the Government of New Brunswick at the time.

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

They are for New Brunswick. They are not for all of Canada.

[Simon Forgues]

No.

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

In the evening, Radio-Canada virtually turns into a Montreal community radio station; it is not my province's station.

[Simon Forgues]

It is a bit like that. As regards Radio-Canada, for francophone communities, especially minority ones in the country, the service offered is not at all a reflection of the community.

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

I agree with you. The coverage is national.

[Simon Forgues]

For example, when we hear people—

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

Back home, at 8:00 p.m. on CKRO, we listen to Cayouche.