Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2011

[Lily Ryan]

I think both of your questions hold equal weight. Naturally, distribution of program funding needs to be fair. That goes without saying, I'd say.

That residents are informed about issues affecting them is also a requirement in any democracy. We need to look at the numbers on how residents get information, particularly those in rural areas where the broadband Internet, and Internet advertising, hasn't reached them. This points to community newspapers.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

I think you're right. In my riding, everyone reads the community newspapers from page to page.

If you can persuade the minister responsible for cultural affairs that this is the best way to get a message across, I think you will be successful in securing a lot more from the government.

[Lily Ryan]

Thank you.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Would you like to add something?

[François Côté]

I can tell you that last year was an extremely trying year with respect to advertising, because a choice had already been made: it was the year of television and the Internet. Radio stations and newspapers paid the price, and it was a very stiff price. There was a drop of more than 85% in revenues from the federal government. There was not much left for us. Things are slightly better this year, and yet there are a number of campaigns in the newspapers and on television, but not on the radio.

Just as we pointed out to Public Works, part of the population is not being served or is not receiving the government's message. This is what we are working on now. We would like to see all Canadians have access to that message, but they are not all receiving it at this time. Do you understand what I mean?

It is clear to us that there must be a larger proportion of government messages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Aubin.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Ryan, Mr. Forgues, Mr. Côté and Mr. Potié, I would like to welcome you to the committee and thank you for being with us this morning.

In theory, we are meeting today to assess a Roadmap with an evaluation program that can only be described as ridiculous. We do not yet have access to the mid-term report, nor do we know whether we ever will, which makes the process of assessing the Roadmap a little complicated.

So, we are going to skip a step and move directly to the next Roadmap. If we ever do receive the mid-term report, we will be able to compare your suggestions for the future with what is basically being done now.

The challenge of the next four and a half minutes rests on your shoulder. You will be sharing the available time. I would like each of you to explain as clearly as possible what your expectations are, and if the word “expectations” is too problematic, perhaps we could just call them suggestions.

What are your practical suggestions in terms of funding mechanisms for your organizations? Do you want to continue to survive on advertising or are you expecting something else?

What are your suggestions regarding governance and management approaches in terms of relations between the government and your organization?

Finally, what suggestions can you make about the mechanisms used to consult official language minority communities?

[Francis Potié]

I will try to answer some of those questions.

With respect to funding, I would say that, when it comes to newspapers, adapting to new media is a major challenge, given the limited resources available. It is not only a major challenge for us, but also a serious threat to francophones in minority communities. The current context is one where the media are having trouble remaining competitive. It is, in fact, difficult to compete with The New York Times and CNN.

As far as the Canada Periodical Fund is concerned, it's a very good program, but I still think it should be designed in such a way as to reflect the fact that our market reality is not the same as a newspaper that can be delivered to the home and reach 100% of the population.

In terms of governance, I must admit that I haven't really given much thought to that. I am going to rely more on my spokesperson, the FCFA, to present the views of the community. Generally, we support that.

In terms of consultation, I would like it to be carried out on more of an ongoing basis and focus more on dialogue. Let me give you an example. We are consulted, we are asked what we all want, we go back home, the drafting begins, and then we are told: “Here is the program”. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I believe that ongoing dialogue as an approach would be more satisfactory, and that the government would end up with a program the goals of which would be more easily met.

[François Côté]

As regards community radio, we would really like to see something in the next Roadmap that deals with community media and would relate specifically to those media. There is currently nothing in the Roadmap—or at least, only passing reference to them.

Obviously, base funding is fundamental for us. That is what we need most. That funding would ensure that there is at least one permanent staff member in each one of our radio stations. And that would allow us to ensure a presence in the new media.

I agree with Mr. Potié in terms of the huge challenge that represents for small companies such as our own.

We also think that there should be increased dialogue and discussion by means of consultations.

In terms of governance, we will support the FCFA's position.

[Lily Ryan]

My contribution on the part of the Quebec Community Newspapers Association is to echo, basically, what Francis and François said.

As for the landscape, with social media and website presence for media, help in that regard is really critical in terms of having a presence and staying current. None of us has the funds to be as dynamic as big corporate newspapers are. Each of us has to struggle through that challenge.

As for governance, I wouldn't have a comment on that.

In terms of consultation, QCNA is always ready to communicate concerning how the programs could be run more effectively. Keeping the dialogue open is important.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Monsieur Menegakis.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

I would like to thank you for being here today and for your presentations.

Within your organizations, do you have members that represent the media in the multicultural communities?

[Lily Ryan]

Over the last couple of years we've had extensive discussions about defining what a newspaper is. Is it a newspaper just because it's paper? Is a “newspaper” that pops up at election time a newspaper? Does it have to have subscriptions? Does it have to have an editorial page? Many “capital N newspapers” don't have an editorial page.

We are using the term “ethnic newspapers”; there are lots around Montreal. We have several members—and that's how we would define newspaper: being a member of an accredited association. That provides anyone who's interested in using newspapers the tranquility of mind that we're looking at professional journalism. The multicultural groups have professional journalists working in newspapers, and some of them are becoming members. It's a matter of finding them and establishing a relationship with them. We have a handful of members who publish articles either exclusively in another language or partially in another language.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

I have a question for the Association des radios communautaires, for Monsieur Côté.

In 2009, our government directed the CRTC to do a public review of its policies for campus and community radio. Specifically, I want to ask you about the streamlining of the regulatory framework that gives flexibility in your programming. Would you care to comment on that?

[François Côté]

A review of the community radio policy was very good for the sector, both for campus and community radio stations. The new policy provides for greater accessibility and is also much simpler for radio stations to administer.

In terms of flexibility in programming, I am not certain that we have achieved what we wanted, because we asked for certain things. That said, thanks to the new policy, it is now much simpler to operate a radio station than it was prior to 2009. It was very complicated.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Merci.

I've heard a couple of times about newspapers being used at election times. You've mentioned this a couple of times, Ms. Ryan.

I'm curious, since you're speaking specifically about Quebec, as to whether members of Parliament in Quebec use their local newspapers to inform their constituents about government programs. Do they not do so?

[Lily Ryan]

Do you mean outside of election time?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes. You mentioned the retrofit program, and there are other programs. In my riding I certainly use the community newspapers to inform my constituents about government programs of which they can avail themselves. Have you not seen this happen?

[Lily Ryan]

It's hit and miss. Our local MPs will run ads for the poppy campaign or at New Year's, or greetings such as Merry Christmas or on Canada Day. That's when we'll get a business card, at a time when everyone is putting in a greeting, or for school safety—

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

But they are not tied specifically to a program—the retrofit program, the horizon seniors program—?

[Lily Ryan]

I don't want to say never, but I'd say it's very rare.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

With the advent of the Internet and the Internet explosion, we've seen a big use of computers and stuff, but I agree with you that not every home has a computer and not everyone relies on technology to be informed. I'm specifically thinking of seniors, because I would think that a lot of seniors don't have a computer in their home and have not picked up computer skills.

Do the local newspapers that you represent go to every single home?

[Francis Potié]

It varies. In some communities that are 80% francophone or more, the newspaper is delivered to every door. However, if the community is only 5% francophone, it is not financially viable to distribute the newspaper to everyone. In those cases, the newspaper is paid for by means of subscriptions. So, no, it is not delivered to every door. It is delivered to the doors we knocked on to secure a subscription.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

And for the local English newspapers...?

[Lily Ryan]

It's the same. Some are for free distribution in a Publisac.