Yes, please.
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.
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.
9:30 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
I said that as far as the Canada Periodical Fund review is concerned, we did get the basic amount we wanted to receive. There is a range of eligibility criteria that are more flexible and tailored to the reality of the official language publication market. People have submitted their applications, but have yet to receive a reply. Nevertheless, a greater number of publications should be eligible for this program. Not all publications are covered as yet, but more so than before.
Did I answer your question?
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, but I was referring to the funds that are supposed to be available as of April 1.
9:30 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
We are hoping that this is the case. I would however like to comment on that matter.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
That is exactly what I requested. I received an answer on February 26.
9:30 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
Yes, this is obviously a concern. I would simply like to explain how this works.
9:30 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
Under the Publications and Newspaper Support Program, the money used to be transferred every week from Canadian Heritage to Canada Post. The purpose was to reduce postage for newspaper delivery. Now, the money will be given directly by Canadian Heritage to the newspaper at the beginning of the year, which is all right. We tried to really focus on this issue in our dealings with the department and that is one of the reasons why we wrote you.
I am not saying that this is going to happen, but the government is sometimes late in issuing cheques. If the cheque is late by one, two or three months, it will have an impact on the newspaper's cashflow, which is very important. If we take the case of the newspaper Le Voyageur for instance, we are talking about $12,000 or $15,000 per month. Sometimes we have to pay bills totalling $12,000 or $15,000 per month. Not all of the companies are financially solid and have enough cashflow to make ends meet. That is our concern and we are not the only ones who are worried.
The program in principle is good, but if the funds allocated by the government arrive late, starting April 1, many newspapers will have cashflow problems.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
We are being told that the money will be there.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The response is good, but now we have to wait and see. Is that right?
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
You represent the Association de la presse francophone. Does your organization only represent the community sector?
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
No, we have newspapers that are—
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
Private newspapers. We are talking about not-for-profit organizations that are run solely by volunteers, and we do have one member that is a large company.
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
L'Acadie Nouvelle is not a member.
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
We have just changed our criteria and now accept dailies. We used to only accept weeklies. We are in transition.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
It may have every reason in the world to become a member in order to get some help. By that I mean that the war with the Irvings is not an easy one in New Brunswick, when it comes to the written press. The Irving company owns 17 newspapers.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
But that has nothing to do with the concentration of the press. There are 17 newspapers and one francophone newspaper, L'Acadie Nouvelle.
Are there any discussions with newspapers like that?