Evidence of meeting #10 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was media.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I don't think it would affect the association if you're not getting any money from it. I agree with you there.
I'm asking you, as someone in the news media, what is your view of that, that it not be made public--if it's not made public?
9:35 a.m.
Member of the Board of Directors, Editor, West Quebec Post, Quebec Community Newspapers Association
I'd have to have more details about why it wasn't made public.
9:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Association de la presse francophone
Like any media organization, we are always in favour of as much transparency as possible. We would expect an evaluation carried out by the government to be made public. We would cover it in order to inform the public.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Indeed, Francis gave you the right answer to your question. If there is any value in that news, we would want to know about it.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Does the ARCC receive contributions from the provinces and municipalities?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Do you know whether, on an individual basis, your radio stations receive contributions from provincial, territorial or municipal governments?
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
In fact, none of our stations receives recurring funding. Only one station in Manitoba receives a small annual contribution through the Canada-communities agreement.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It's with Canadian Heritage.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It is CKXL in Winnipeg and Saint Boniface. It's the only radio station.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I believe you set up a fund with student and English-language radio stations.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
It was in 2007.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Can you tell me what the current status of that fund is? Also, does the Government of Canada contribute to it?
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
No, the government does not contribute to its funding. The fund is for this year. Actually, there is an agreement now with private broadcasters who will be paying money into it for the development of Canadian content. We are talking about a fund of about $1 million for this year. After administrative costs, there is about $750,000 left to distribute to radio stations. As I said earlier, that represents less than $5,000 per station.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
In other words, the Government of Canada has contributed nothing at all since it was first set up.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Not yet, but the government did allow for the fund to be set up initially.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
We are trying to secure a meeting with government representatives to talk about a future contribution.
9:35 a.m.
Secretary General, Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
Yes, but I am not able to tell you what the status of that process is. Part of the plan of the fund managers is to meet with government officials.