Official Languages Committee on March 16th, 2010

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.

On the agenda

Support of the Federal Government for Official Language Minority Media

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Francis Potié Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone

François Côté Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

Simon Forgues Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

Geneviève Gazaille Director of Communications and Government Relations, Association de la presse francophone

9:55 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

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.

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

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.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Fine.

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

François Côté

That is why this project is so important.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

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.

9:55 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

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.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Are there problems in terms of advertising revenues?

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

François Côté

Locally?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Yes.

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

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—

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

I understand.

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

François Côté

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

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Yes.

9:55 a.m.

Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

François Côté

It becomes a problem.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

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

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

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

9:55 a.m.

NDP

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?

9:55 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

Simon Forgues

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

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

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

9:55 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

Simon Forgues

No.

10 a.m.

NDP

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.

10 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

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.

10 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I agree with you. The coverage is national.

March 16th, 2010 / 10 a.m.

Development and Communications Officer, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada

Simon Forgues

For example, when we hear people—

10 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

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