Evidence of meeting #3 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was station.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
The best idea, apart from the money, is to try to find a way, as you explained, to retain young people. However, community radio is a training ground where people really learn about the field.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
The situation is different in New Brunswick, because the retention rate is nevertheless quite high compared to the rest of Canada.
Elsewhere in Canada, I think that retention remains a problem, because young people want to complete their classes and move on.
Conservative
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
For my part, I am concerned to learn that you are always playing catch-up and facing insecurity. I think community radio stations are very important.
I had an opportunity to spend my vacation in Lamèque in my neighbour Yvon's riding. I was interviewed there by a young radio journalist. I realize that it is extremely important in the region, but they are so overwhelmed. A single person does everything. I don't think that you are asking for the moon, but you are asking for the bare minimum.
When you made your requests, were you well received? If not, can we do something to help you, to move things along, to advance matters more quickly?
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Until we get the results of the review of the Community and Campus Radio Policy, we will have some difficulties. As regards the review, we asked that a portion of the money for developing Canadian content, that the private sector pays to the CRTC, be put into the Community Radio Fund of Canada. We are talking about approximately $2.5 million per year that could ultimately be shared by the country's 140 community radio stations. Clearly, that will not be enough.
That is why we are asking the Canadian government to provide $4.2 million. That will ultimately help us and enable us to have perhaps about $50,000 per year for each radio station. With $50,000, as you saw by visiting the radio station, a lot can be done. It's amazing what can be done with $50,000. But of course that will never be enough.
If we truly want to fulfil our mandate, we will need a lot more than that. However, obtaining that will at least be a start for us. Subsequently, we will be able to grow and go farther, but we have to start somewhere.
Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Yes. If at least we have one permanent position in each of our radio stations, this person...
The problem is that we always have to look for funding, to sell advertising and things like that. So long as you are working just to keep your head above water—
Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
—you cannot train volunteers, you cannot provide support for the volunteers, you cannot take the time to set up a good program schedule.
Radio stations are already having trouble keeping their heads above water, and now they are being asked to start looking for funds and things like that.
We are not asking for the impossible; we want a permanent position that can provide a foundation. Thus, we can start building something concrete.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
You said that there were 140 stations, and that with $30,000 each, this would be enough. For what period of time did you request that? Do you want it to be recurrent?
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
We are asking for recurrent funding. That is what we need.
Bloc
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
We hope to start the year without having to go out and get this money from the community.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Yes, that is it.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
So that afterward, you can afford to advertise or to get sponsors, people who can buy advertising space.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Yes, exactly.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
This would make life easier for you and you could hire more staff.
The young man who interviewed me had to run all over the place. It was unbelievable. He was alone on the job. He had to cover a vast territory in that region of Canada. As it was summer, there were many summer festivals. He had to be all over the place because they did not have the staff they needed.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Our stations are in a predicament; there is not enough staff.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It is the same everywhere.
Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Yes, they all have to drag a ball and chain called basic funding. That is exactly what we want for the Fonds canadien de la radio communautaire.
If you are wearing a ball and chain, how can you run all over the place to sell things like bingo cards, raffle-tickets, etc.?
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I am glad that I did not get hit with that ball.
I hope that you will keep us abreast of the results of your request. Our committee would be interested to see what happens with that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you, Ms. Guay.
Let me just come back to a point that you, the people from radio, raised this morning. You said that the CRTC imposed certain constraints. You said that it was easier to broadcast blues or jazz in New Brunswick than to broadcast folk music or Cayouche. Please tell me more about the context.