Thank you very much.
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.
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.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blais, for being here.
We've actually had a chance to speak before, at the Canadian heritage committee, when you had just been appointed.
I have noticed that the words “local” and “community” come up a lot. When you talk about service offerings, you are mostly referring to consultations, reports and so forth. But is there any data available, for our information as well as yours, that would tell us whether the Broadcasting Act was being respected as far as content goes, particularly French content?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
One of the things we have been doing for a few years now is putting together a monitoring report. It is published annually, and the last report came out in September 2012. So we'll be releasing another one next year.
I know that, as members, you are very busy and sometimes overwhelmed by documentation. You were probably sent a copy of the report. Regardless, it is available on the CRTC's website. It details the English-language and French-language services available in Canada's various communities, with an emphasis on official languages.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Do you have any tools in your arsenal to ensure that broadcasting services respect the act, especially at the community level? A report is important, and it's all well and good, but there are certain requirements. Do you have the necessary tools to address potential deficiencies?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
My answer will speak to the system as a whole, because the report pertains to the entire system. At the same time, when it comes to the licensees specifically, if a radio station is supposed to offer a certain type of content and doesn't, we have tools to require these companies to provide reports and we can grant short-term renewals. We even have the power to be more aggressive.
So we have a range of options at our disposal. We don't yank licences the first time a problem arises.
NDP
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That's right.
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
I just wanted to know where things stand in terms of the process.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Okay.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
I have another question about broadcasting.
Unless I am mistaken, your website says that your latest study on broadcasting in areas where French is in a minority situation was conducted in 2001. Is that correct? Has it been that long?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No. I actually remember that I was the executive director in 2001 and was in charge of producing that report. The commission has produced another one since. That was in....
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
In 2009.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
There should have been another report in 2009. We could perhaps help you find it on our website. As I mentioned in the beginning, one of the reasons we are revamping our website is that it's a bit difficult to find information on it.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Oh, I see. You were talking about all the available applications. For instance, there is an iPad application for tou.tv. Broadcasting must involve some challenges because of technological advances. There are various ways to obtain radio services.
The 2009 report is recent, but is there any interest in redoing the exercise soon, given the rapid technological advances?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Yes. It is sometimes very difficult to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology. Occasionally, we hold public hearings over three, four or five months, and the reality can change very quickly over the course of the hearing.
As I mentioned, we produce an annual monitoring report that covers the whole industry. You are entirely correct in saying that the 2009 report should perhaps be redone at some point.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Great, thanks.
If I have some time left and if it's okay with you, I would like to come back to a question on official languages I asked you at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. You may be able to provide me with additional details, now that you have taken some time to learn more about the matter. I am not saying that you didn't know enough about it at the time.
We have seen that the Canadian content requirement percentage has decreased. That can clearly lead to some issues, especially when it comes to French. I remember the answer you gave me. You said that this was not an issue in Quebec, since the consumption legislation effectively leads to consumption in French.
However, what is the situation in areas outside Quebec where francophones are living in a minority situation? I know we discussed that. However, I would like to know whether assessments will be made to ensure that this percentage will not negatively affect the French services provided to other francophones.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Your question mainly has to do with television, I believe.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
As I said earlier, most television services available in Canada come from Quebec. In a way, listeners outside Quebec are somewhat secondary, from the business plan perspective. We have no difficulty in providing Canadian content to those groups. That's what works when it comes to getting audiences.
That being said, we do have certain standards. In April, we will hold hearings for two applications submitted mostly by communities to demonstrate a willingness to reflect communities. The hearing is ongoing.
I'm having a hard time understanding the issue in terms of Canadian content on francophone stations. On the contrary, that's very powerful.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I would just like to add something. The drop that is a concern for you applied only to Quebec microwave stations.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Thank you very much.
I just have a quick question. Perhaps Mr. Hutton could answer it.
Mr. Blais' presentation talks about 450 employees. It says that 54% of those employees are francophones, and 46% are anglophones. I assume that 100% of the 54% made up of francophone employees are bilingual.
No?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No, you should not assume that. I know because we sometimes have to send in request for people whose first language is French to attend training sessions in order to improve their English.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
I would like to know how many of your 450 employees are actually bilingual. What portion of the 54% are bilingual, and what portion of the 46% are bilingual. You don't have to answer that question now, but I am interested in those figures.
For instance, in Ottawa, there are about 120,000 francophones and 180,000 anglophones who can speak French. That gives francophones and francophiles some considerable clout.
