Canadian Heritage committee  I'd have to agree with you. Spoken-word content is one, and the CBC is quite well placed in that domain, with the changing world. As recently as last December, we published our revised regulatory framework for private conventional radio. We found that the key to private radio is

Canadian Heritage committee  The commission is currently in its deliberations on that very issue, in respect primarily to the over-the-air television framework for commercial or private stations. That is a key concern, how one can ensure that Canada remains modern and moves to the digital world without leavi

Canadian Heritage committee  First of all, I would have to agree with the proposition of the CAB that if Canada does not provide high-quality television services, in this case HD, Canadians will watch HD from other countries. So it's very important that we remain at the forefront and offer Canadians those ch

Canadian Heritage committee  You're putting me on sketchy ground, because that's exactly the issue that is before us. The broadcasters have certainly said that transitioning to digital and transitioning to HD is very expensive; therefore, we should allow them fees or regulatory bargains to be able to achieve

Canadian Heritage committee  I'd have to go back to a little bit of history, to our dealings in licence renewals. At the last licence renewal in the year 2000, when some of the new technologies were coming on board, that very issue was raised. I think our point of view at that point in time was that explorat

Canadian Heritage committee  Not to downplay changes that are before us, but if one looks at our situation right now--forget about new media--you have newspapers, you have magazines, you have arts, you have broadcasting. There are probably a number of different ways for Canadians to see themselves or to see

Canadian Heritage committee  I can answer on two fronts. One, currently we are certainly looking at all of our regulations to ensure that we remain flexible and nimble. We are conducting a set of policy reviews. While traditionally policy reviews have a shelf life of about seven to eight years, I think our

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. This comment seems very timely to me, for today, as well as for the future of the Canadian broadcasting system. Especially when it comes to English-speaking Canada, you can't lose site of our proximity to the United States. On the French-language side, the market's small siz

Canadian Heritage committee  Are you referring to the CRTC's role with respect to regulating the CBC/Radio-Canada?

Canadian Heritage committee  Unless you're referring to Quebec television.

Canadian Heritage committee  The CRTC's role with respect to the Société Radio-Canada is similar to the role it plays with respect to the CBC. Although we are close to these organizations, their mandate is clear and it is also included in the Canadian Broadcasting Act. We are therefore required to apply slig

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, we do receive complaints. We could provide you with that information. We do have some details with us here today.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'll defer to Mr. Foster.

Canadian Heritage committee  It would seem that we have not received a large number of complaints regarding the availability of French-language services outside Quebec and English-language services in Quebec and the Maritime provinces. People wanting to send in their comments may send them to us or to the CB