Official Languages Committee on April 1st, 2010

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

It won't be long, Mr. Chair.

I have just a small question. In your presentation, at page 6, it says that 27 official language publications received $702,139 in funding in 2008-2009. I understand that you don't have the 2009-2010 figures. In theory, the ones who should have it should have it today.

[Jean-François Bernier]

Yes.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Can you tell us, if we consider 2008-2009, how many publications were applications made for? Did everyone who apply receive money or did some have their application rejected?

[Scott Shortliffe]

In 2008-2009, the 27 applications were approved.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

There were 27 applications and 27 applications were approved.

[Scott Shortliffe]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. D'Amours.

We will continue with Mr. Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am wondering about a magazine or periodical produced in Quebec. Take Géo Plein Air, for example, which is distributed everywhere in Canada in French in national parks and outfitters. Some subjects relate to the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, recreational activities, and so on. Would that publication be eligible because this French-language product is distributed in, for example, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, where French is the minority language? Can it be a recipient under the program?

[Scott Shortliffe]

It's a matter of sales and not the language of publication. The question is whether there are more than 1,500 copies distributed per year at the newsstand or by subscription.

Once they're sold, we treat everyone the same. The formula applies to every copy in the same way. There isn't more money in the formula for official language minority titles per copy, but there is easier access to official language minority titles.

In the example you raised, if they sell copies, they would absolutely be eligible for our program, and anyone who subscribes to them in French around Canada would receive funding and recognition of that.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

And so, given that it comes from Quebec, it can't be considered to be minority francophone if it is sold elsewhere. It's something else, if I understand correctly. So it can be eligible for the program...

[Scott Shortliffe]

Oui.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

...notwithstanding where it is actually sold.

[Jean-François Bernier]

It is the publisher's address that counts.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

It's the number of issues sold.

[Jean-François Bernier]

Yes.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

That is what determines eligibility for the program.

I gave the example of Géo Plein Air because it reaches a wide variety of people. In terms of concept, do some magazines fit the program while others don't? I'm talking about outdoor activities, but I could also talk about music or literature.

Can all magazines be eligible for the program?

[Jean-François Bernier]

The only magazines that aren't are the pornographic kind, for example Playboy Canada.

[Jean-François Bernier]

It can be a religious magazine, an outdoor magazine or a general information magazine, it's all the same to us.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.

We will now move on to Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

You talked about publications that receive a contribution from the government. That doesn't include daily papers. Is that correct?

[Jean-François Bernier]

Yes.

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

Does it include weekly papers?

[Scott Shortliffe]

Absolutely.

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

Regardless of whether the owner is a multinational? You said earlier, Mr. Bernier, that it didn't cover The Globe and Mail or the National Post. But some weeklies are owned by an empire. In New Brunswick, it's rare to talk about newspapers. I think it's the only province in Canada where 17 newspapers are owned by an empire, the Irving empire in that case. Irving has decided to publish a weekly called L'Étoile. Is it one of the 27 publications?