Speech
Notes for an address
by Andrée Noël
Regional Commissioner for Quebec
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
at the launch of Télé-Mag Québec
Beauport, Quebec
October 20th, 2005
(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)
Thank you, Michel (Carrier, Master of Ceremonies). I am thrilled to participate in the official launch of Télé-Mag Québec, and I thank you for the invitation. On behalf of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairs, the Commissioners and the staff of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), allow me first of all to offer you my best wishes for success.
Today, the team that conceived and brought Télé-Mag to life is celebrating its achievement: the very first low-power community television station in the country. That’s something to be proud of! This is a special occasion, not just for your team and the Québec City area, but also for Canadian broadcasting as a whole.
Such an accomplishment enriches the Canadian television landscape and contributes to Canada’s reputation for excellence in broadcasting. Télé-Mag is significantly enhancing the local programming offered to viewers in the greater Québec City region. Among other things, it is fostering the emergence of new talent, and increasing employment opportunities, in the television sector. Its high proportion of local programming enables residents to see themselves on television and to learn more about the subjects that interest them.
The CRTC noted the uniqueness of this service when approving it in 2003. The project had, of course, to meet the objectives established in the Commission’s 2002 policy that dealt with, among other things, low-power community television, i.e.:
- to ensure the creation and presentation of more locally-produced programming that reflects the local reality; and
- to encourage the diversity of voices and alternative solutions by encouraging new players at the local level.
And that is now reality. Télé-Mag offers viewers in the Québec City area magazine-style programs with a local and regional flavour that reflect their needs and interests. This company is different from the other broadcasters presently in the market. The intimacy of this medium allows people to relate to their own reality and their own concerns. Télé-Mag’s programming will therefore add to the diversity of Québec’s television landscape.
As the Commission states in its Policy Framework for Community-based Media, citizen access to community channels has always been a cornerstone of its policy. The Commission added:
“The factor that most distinguishes the content of community programming from conventional television services is the ability of community programming to turn the passive viewer of television into an active participant. From this participation flows programming of a nature that is as varied as the imagination and skills of the participants.”
By condition of licence, Télé-Mag must offer a minimum of 80% Canadian content and at least 60% local programming in a broadcast year. But Télé-Mag has decided to exceed the latter condition; it is committed to adding 20% more regional programming to the minimum of 60%.
These conditions of licence and this commitment not only benefit the target audience, they also benefit Québec’s creative and production industries. In addition to the production people employed by Télé-Mag, independent producers not associated with the company will receive 5% of gross annual revenue from broadcasting activities. This is in some ways an antidote to the “Montréalization” of the airwaves we hear so much about.
And so, I wish a long life to CHMG-TV! And congratulations to Marjolaine Gagné and her entire team!
Thank you!
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Date Modified: 2005-10-20
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