Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2011

[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?

[Lily Ryan]

I'd have to have more details about why it wasn't made public.

[Francis Potié]

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.

[François Côté]

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.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Does the ARCC receive contributions from the provinces and municipalities?

[François Côté]

No.

[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?

[François Côté]

In fact, none of our stations receives recurring funding. Only one station in Manitoba receives a small annual contribution through the Canada-communities agreement.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Which agreement?

[François Côté]

It's with Canadian Heritage.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

And which radio station would that be?

[François Côté]

It is CKXL in Winnipeg and Saint Boniface. It's the only radio station.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I believe you set up a fund with student and English-language radio stations.

[François Côté]

Yes.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Was that last year?

[François Côté]

It was in 2007.

[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?

[François Côté]

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.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

In other words, the Government of Canada has contributed nothing at all since it was first set up.

[François Côté]

Not yet, but the government did allow for the fund to be set up initially.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Are there any indications that it might contribute?

[François Côté]

We are trying to secure a meeting with government representatives to talk about a future contribution.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

You are trying to set up a meeting—

[François Côté]

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.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So, you don't handle that.