Evidence of meeting #69 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 crtc.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Welcome to the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Today is Thursday, February 28, 2013. Pursuant to Standing Order 108, we are studying the Official Languages Act.
With us today, we have Mr. Blais and Mr. Hutton from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Welcome to you both.
Mr. Blais, you can now begin your presentation.
Jean-Pierre Blais Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for this invitation to meet with you today.
I would like to begin by introducing my colleague, Scott Hutton, Executive Director of Broadcasting at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Since March 2012, he has also served as the CRTC's official languages champion.
Mr. Chairman, I'm fighting a cold, so I apologize in advance if I start coughing. I should be able to make it.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems. The CRTC therefore has obligations under the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act. In addition, as a federal institution, we have obligations under the Official Languages Act, in particular with respect to communications with the public, the delivery of services, the language of work and the advancement of French and English. I would note that the obligation to promote French and English is also present in the Broadcasting Act.
I will be happy to provide you information on a wide range of issues relating to our operations. There are, however, limits to what I can discuss today, especially with regard to files that are currently under review.
The CRTC employs approximately 450 people, 54% of whom are francophone and 46% of whom are anglophone. It is a balance we are very proud of, and which sets the tone in our workplace. We actively encourage our employees to use the language of their choice at work, including in meetings. We also provide interpretation services for full commission meetings and other important meetings.
In 2012, the CRTC won a public service award of excellence for developing and implementing its word of the day initiative. Every morning an e-mail note is sent to all employees on the usage of a word or an expression in both languages. The intention, of course, is to promote and enhance the proper use of both languages in the workplace. In addition, we are always looking to improve our communications with the public in both official languages, at our headquarters in Gatineau, in our regional offices during public hearings, and through our website.
All CRTC communications are issued simultaneously in French and English, from documents on our website to our messages via social media. Everything related to client services, including telephone communications, letters, and e-mail messages, is in the appropriate language. We are also revamping our website to better adhere to the Government of Canada's standard on web accessibility and to make it easier to find information.
Also on the topic of our relationship with the public, the CRTC is in regular communication with official language minority communities, better known as OLMCs. We created a discussion group to facilitate the participation of minority groups in the CRTC's public proceedings. In this forum, OLMCs share their needs and CRTC staff presents relevant information on the proceedings in which OLMCs should participate. It is an ideal tool for staying in touch with the needs of OLMCs in the two sectors that concern us: broadcasting and telecommunications.
In addition to its operations, the CRTC is responsible for issues that are at the heart of Canadian identity and culture, including the means to support the vitality of language minority communities. We see to it that Canadians have access to programs in both official languages.
The CRTC plays a key role in maintaining the availability of programming in both languages across the country. The programming offered to Canadians has grown tremendously, whether on conventional television, specialty channels or radio.
Over the last decade we have opened the door to a large number of specialty channels to better serve francophones across the country. Since 2001, 14 new French-language specialty channels and two bilingual channels were approved, raising to 33 the total number of French-language specialty channels.
In addition, 24 new French-language broadcast services have been authorized but have yet to be launched. Furthermore, I would like to remind you that the commission has implemented a simplified rule for ensuring the distribution, by cable and satellite distribution companies, of pay and specialty services in the official language of the minority. Television distributors must provide one minority-language service for every 10 official language majority services within a given market.
In 2011, there were a total of 702 television services in Canada, 439 of which were in English and 101 of which were in French. In that same year, there were 1,189 radio services in Canada, 896 of which were in English and 251 of which were in French.
I would like to emphasize the importance of community television and radio stations and campus radio stations. These broadcasters play a distinct role within the broadcasting system by offering local programming produced in part by volunteers.
In 2010 the CRTC issued a new policy that gives Canadians more opportunities to participate in their community television channels. The policy also makes it possible for community television to more faithfully reflect the interests of members of the local population and the context in which they live.
The CRTC also issued, in 2010, a new policy regarding campus and community radio stations. In particular, funding for the Community Radio Fund of Canada has increased by over $700,000, which is distributed among the 140 campus and community radio stations.
The fundamental issue to which we must be very attentive is that media remain a reflection of official language communities around the country. This is the principle that drives our action in terms of official languages these days. Allow me to illustrate this concept through concrete examples.
In 2012, the CRTC authorized Rogers to acquire a television station in the Montreal region. Rogers committed to broadcasting 15.5 hours of local programming per week, including a morning program reflecting Montreal's English-speaking community.
In addition, we are currently reviewing CBC/Radio-Canada's application to renew its radio and television licences. The question of reflection is one of the main themes of that review. We are examining specifically the quality of the French- and English-language broadcasting services, the representation of official language minority communities and media presence in the regions.
We will also be holding a public hearing in April to review the applications of 16 television services seeking distribution on the basic digital service, in addition to six services seeking to maintain that privilege.
You no doubt have many questions regarding the renewal of CBC/Radio-Canada and its licences and the applications for mandatory distribution.
I regret, Mr. Chairman, that I cannot answer those questions today, given that those proceedings are still under way before the commission.
That being said, I have recently stated on a number of occasions that the CRTC's mission is to ensure that we have a world-class communication system for Canadians—Canadians as creators, Canadians as consumers, and Canadians as citizens. For me, Mr. Chairman, the availability of services in both official languages across the country to meet the needs of Canadians is clearly a matter of citizenship and is key to our mandate.
Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, rest assured that the issue of official languages will continue to figure prominently at the CRTC not only in our operations but as we carry out our legislative mandate.
I'd be happy to answer some questions now.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Mr. Blais.
We have one hour and 50 minutes for questions and comments.
We will start with Mr. Benskin.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
It's a pleasure to meet you finally. In my previous life I had a number of dealings with your predecessor, and I look forward to the work you will be doing with the CRTC.
I want to ask you a bit about the LPIF and the decision by the CRTC to phase it out. As you know, that program was initiated to help local programmers, who were finding that they were hampered in creating programming on a local level, news and so forth, as vertical integration took over the broadcast industry. The decision to phase that out was criticized quite heavily by a number of organizations, including the FCFA. I'd love it if you could elaborate on why that decision was made, and if there is anything in the works to either replace or supplement the local programming initiatives.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The fund was created in 2008 at a time of some financial crisis and then a much broader economic crisis. Broadcasting was going through a difficult time because of the loss of advertising, and revenues were going down. To reflect the local scene this program was put in place to help in non-metropolitan areas, which were facing a particular economic challenge. In that original decision the commission did say that it would review the effectiveness of the fund, and that review led to the decision in July 2012. To be clear, although I arrived at the commission in July 2012, I didn't participate in the decision-making because the hearing had occurred much earlier.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
On reviewing it, the commission decided not to go forward with the fund in large part because one of the reasons that had led to it, the economic situation, was by then largely improving. But because the commission was conscious that a sudden withdrawal of the money would have a negative impact, it decided to ramp the fund down over a three-year period. As a result parties will be able to adjust to that.
We did suggest in that decision that through future licensing applications we would be looking at that very issue. In particular, we noted the upcoming renewal of the CBC. In terms of the minority language communities, I think that is where some of the criticism had occurred. The fund of about $14 or $15 million had been going to television services in minority situations, but most of those were related to CBC/Radio-Canada. The commission specifically said that we'd be looking at that issue in the hearing in November, but the decisions have quite been made yet.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
If I'm understanding you correctly there is some appetite—for a lack of a better way of putting it—to include those initiatives in upcoming licensing applications.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
As I said in my opening remarks, it's really important that the broadcasting system reflect the needs of those communities.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
One of the ways of doing that is through specific licensing renewals. Without getting too far into the CBC renewal hearings, we heard a lot from the communities in that context. They were vocal. There were counter views obviously, as there always are. But they presented their position, and we're now seized with making decisions with respect to the CBC and its legislative mandate to reflect the needs of the English and francophone communities.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Furthermore, I saw and heard in your presentation that some $700,000 is being earmarked for community radio. Does that include community television as well?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No, it's specifically for the radio portion of it.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
In terms of community broadcasting,as you said and as we know, community radio and television outlets are really quite necessary now because of the pullback on official language minority representation in broadcasting. So the community radio and television operations are taking up a lot of that slack without the resources. It's great that you've got money going into the radio sector. As far as the television sector is concerned, is there any discussion of mandating or encouraging the large broadcasters to supply time or space for community radio stations?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The way the broadcast distribution rules—
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Yes. The way that broadcast distribution rules apply to cable and satellite companies, they are required to make a contribution to local expression. That takes several forms. There is a varying percentage that they give to the Canada Media Fund. That is a substantial fund for the more high-end dramas. You're probably well-familiar with it.
As well, some money goes to community television, the local community cable stations, and under the new policy, there's a great deal of participation by volunteers in that area. The cable companies, for instance, find it quite beneficial because it is a very local voice and a very local presence in the marketplace, so they contribute through the offering of that community channel.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Mr. Benskin.
Thank you, Mr. Blais.
Mr. Gourde, you have the floor.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Blais, Mr. Hutton, thank you for joining us.
At this committee, we have often spoken about the importance of our two official languages. That is why our committee exists. In your presentation, you mentioned the approval of two bilingual channels, which pleasantly surprised me. More and more Canadians are bilingual, but this is the first time that I have heard of the existence of bilingual channels. Could you tell me a little more about them, please? Does it mean that parts of a program are in English and other parts are in French? Could you explain what these bilingual channels are?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
To my knowledge, there are no bilingual channels.
Scott Hutton Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
What we are referring to are services to help communities that need better access to radio services. In that sense, they are considered bilingual because they serve both francophone and anglophone communities. Services like that are not very common. They support access to radio broadcasting.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
So there is no bilingual programming.