Finance committee  Vidéotron and Cogeco are already involved, for their cable television services.

Finance committee  They contribute from their cable TV revenues. We have always asked ourselves this. Now, at the government's request, all content produced with the Canadian Television Fund must be distributed on all platforms. Of course, many of these cable providers are also Internet services providers—Vidéotron, Bell, and so on.

Finance committee  So why do they not contribute to the Canada Media Fund, to increase its revenues? After all, they benefit fully from the content they broadcast.

Finance committee  Third, funding for the Canada Feature Film Fund needs to be increased and a separate fund must be created for documentary feature films. We believe that an additional $20 million needs to be invested to boost the Canadian film industry, specifically, $15 million for the Canada Feature Film Fund and $5 million for a fund dedicated to theatrical-release documentaries.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Claire Samson. I am the President and CEO of the Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec. With me today is Brigitte Doucet, Deputy General Director. For 40 years now, the APFTQ has been the umbrella organization for over 140 production companies working in both official languages and in all sectors of audiovisual production in Quebec.

Canadian Heritage committee  As content providers—and you talked about this a little earlier with the other group—we don't have a position of seeking to flee the reality or to go backwards. I think it's important that Canadian artists and producers be present in the new media since the attraction of our culture is at stake.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Péladeau's plan has one great quality, it's clear. When he says he wants it all, he wants it all. Of course it worries us, because we think—in particular in Quebec we think—that the success of Canadian production, Quebec production, and of Quebec culture resides in the fact that it's very diverse.

Canadian Heritage committee  First, we are indeed not in favour of greater access to Canadian ownership for foreign interests, whether it be in satellites or broadcasting. Today, those businesses are all vertically and horizontally integrated. It would be extremely difficult to limit that to satellites. And if you allow me to give you an example of what scares us, eventually what if a Canadian satellite company were sold to the United States?

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I'm contradicting them. There are limits to “pipes”; there are limits to this pipe. As in the example you cited concerning smart phones, the person who controls the pipe controls the content. We live in a quite developed country, which can decide that its culture will exist and that it will be on the airwaves, whether it be wireless, satellite or something else.

Canadian Heritage committee  In closing, I'll talk about financing. The creation of the Canada Media Fund has shaken up the established order. From now on, not only will the fund finance the production of original television content, but that content will also have to include one or more digital media components.

Canadian Heritage committee  As for Canadian content, we firmly believe that the new Canadian communications policy, including communication concerning digital media, will have to provide, in particular, for regulations that afford a framework for the supply of cultural content through digital media. Today, the CRTC has preferred not to regulate in this field in order to monitor developments—the entire Internet.

Canadian Heritage committee  Good afternoon. The APFTQ has been in existence for more than 40 years now and represents more than 130 professional production companies working in both official languages in all audiovisual production sectors in Quebec. We want to thank the committee for the opportunity to express our digital vision today.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr, Angus, I wish I could add one chapter to your catastrophe book. As we are observing, the plan unfolds. After we've made television, and whatever is going to be left of it, the cheapest spot, let us mute our core business to the new platforms that we do not want to be regulated.

Canadian Heritage committee  Do you want me to talk to you about criteria?

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. First of all, I think we have to draw an important distinction here. You're very sensitive to this, I'm convinced of it. There is an enormous difference between the behaviour of the francophone audience and that of the anglophone audience. Quebec has traditionally managed to rely on a star system that has developed over the years, first with radio, then in the theatre, variety reviews, movies and now television.