Mr. Speaker, concerning the request by the hon. member for Chicoutimi that the minister personally call upon Cabinet to enforce section 28(1) of the Broadcast Act and to change the CRTC's decision, I would like to inform the hon. member that when the CRTC refuses to grant a broadcasting license, the government cannot invoke the provisions of the legislation.
However, I would like to indicate that the refusal of the two pay-per-view television proposals does not mean that the CRTC has no intention of encouraging French language television services. On the contrary, I am pleased to note that the francophone market will have the benefit of two new French language services.
In addition, the CRTC has clearly let it be known that it is ready to receive and consider new applications to offer French language television services and specifically French language pay-per-view services.
However, when an application has been refused, as was the case with the applications submitted by Canal Première and Chapiteau, the government has no authority to cancel or overturn the CRTC's decision.