Official Languages Committee on April 1st, 2010

[Kevin Matthews]

I would say no. In particular, I'll highlight the fact that the Canadian Television Fund has become the Canadian Media Fund, so it may support television and also new media development, but not radio, for no conceivable reason I can think of. So we're not getting help there.

We see our stations as natural places to help ensure Canadians will have public access to new media. It's a working model. The community radio model does ensure public access to the airwaves, and it works. And if the government wants Canadians to enjoy public access to new media broadcasting, it only makes sense to support the institutions that are already successful, that are serving people this way. But that support isn't coming.

I would also mention that there are obstacles. I should have mentioned, in response to Mr. Nadeau's question, another thing where legislators can help us is when it comes to copyright reform. The current copyright system is presenting significant barriers that prevent us from adopting new media in community radio, from properly embracing new distribution technologies and new kinds of media production, which we could do. We have volunteers coming into the station who want to. We have skilled people. What we need is the money to have a systematic approach to extending our services into the new media environment. So far the support isn't there, and the copyright system, I'm afraid, is holding us back in some ways.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Bakoyannis, do you receive assistance? I know the federal government offers it. I don't know whether the government of Quebec also does. Apart from advertising, which brings in a lot, do you have another funding source for newspapers?

[George Bakoyannis]

We have five papers. Out of the five papers, only one receives funding. We have a paper called North Shore News, which is published in the Rosemere-Deux Montagnes area. In that area, we are accessing a fund of about $4,000 a year in order to increase our distribution by 5,000 copies. Basically, they are giving us one-tenth of our cost in order to increase our distribution and better serve the anglophones in that area.

Other than that, we don't have anything. We get nothing from the provincial government whatsoever. Even our association receives in the neighbourhood of $10,000 in total in grants from the provincial government per year.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Boucher.

We will now conclude this second round with Mr. Godin.

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

Merci, monsieur le président.

I want to go to community radio and students.

Do you get money from the government?

[Kevin Matthews]

We, the association...? No.

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

You don't get any money from the government?

[Kevin Matthews]

We've had Canada Summer Jobs positions funded.

[Shelley Robinson]

We've tried.

[Kevin Matthews]

We don't get any annual funding from the government.

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

But there's a difference. Community radio does get it, though. Is that right?

[Shelley Robinson]

Some stations get a small bit. Many stations get the HRSDC summer grants. Some get provincial arts funding. We have a station in Saskatchewan that just got some provincial arts funding.

[Kevin Matthews]

And there's the Vancouver Co-op.

[Shelley Robinson]

The Vancouver Co-op gets money from the Canada Council for the Arts, but they're the only one, and that's because they have a charitable foundation. Other than that, some people get money from the Ontario government through the Trillium program.

[Kevin Matthews]

There's also lottery money, which is, in a manner of speaking, a government source, but it's not public moneys.

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

In part VII of the Official Languages Act, they are supposed to promote regional minorities. Did you ever think about putting in a complaint to the Commissioner of Official Languages to see if you don't have a case?

[Kevin Matthews]

We haven't thought of that before, but now that the two of you have both mentioned this.... When the analyst called us, she mentioned this requirement in the Official Languages Act where all of the ministries, departments, and agencies are supposed to be supporting official language minority communities, and our stations are obviously a very good vessel for doing so. We now see there are many government agencies who are not fulfilling that obligation in regard to us.

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

I would suggest you put your complaint through.

[Kevin Matthews]

I agree, and we will.

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

That's why we not only have the law in our country, but we have a commissioner who is there to make sure the law is followed, and to make recommendations.

I think that is the avenue to use, because it is a kind of discrimination. It's unfair. If we're there to promote the two communities where they are in a minority position, it's only fair that we all get treated the same, whether it's francophones outside of Quebec or anglophones in Quebec--not more, not less. I think we should be treated fairly. That's what it means to be equal, right? That's the avenue to go.

How many student radio stations did you say you have across the country?

[Shelley Robinson]

Just student radio...?

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

Yes. In Quebec....

[Shelley Robinson]

In Quebec, we represent four, and there are six community radio stations that serve official language minority communities.

[Kevin Matthews]

Are you speaking specifically of student radio, of campus radio?

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

Yes.