Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, TVA officially broadcast its signal Canada-wide under the terms of the licence recently granted by the CRTC.
Today, the Bloc Quebecois congratulates all those who, directly or indirectly, made this long-awaited initiative possible.
The Bloc Quebecois is particularly happy for the 618,000 francophones outside Quebec who speak French in the home. A new French broadcasting signal in North America is no small achievement. This one enriches the audiovisual environment of francophone, Acadian, and francophile communities, giving them access to a more balanced selection of English and French channels.
TVA has promised to serve the francophone and Acadian communities. The Bloc Quebecois pays tribute to TVA's initiative and hopes that this co-operation between Quebec's most popular broadcaster, its viewers in Quebec, and francophone viewers outside Quebec will foster renewed solidarity for the Francophonie in Quebec and Canada.