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Speech
Opening remarks
by Françoise Bertrand
Chairperson, Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission
at the 5 November 1997 Public Hearing
Hull, Quebec
November 5, 1997
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. By now you know my name. I am Françoise
Bertrand, Chair of the CRTC. Before we start with our business, I would like to
introduce to you - some of you have already had the
chance to meet them, but I would like to officially introduce to you, the new
three Commissioners of the Commission. It is not because they are not on the
panel today that they will not be working early on 1998 panels.
I would like to introduce Cindy Grauer, who is the Regional Commissioner from
British Columbia, whom many of you already know; Andrew Cardozo; and David
McKendry who is known more in the telecommunication area but seems very
interested by the broadcasting area as well.
As we said when talking about the work plan for the Vision exercise, we said
that it would be hard work for the next three years and we have certainly
experienced it this week!
Today, we begin the oral phase of our public process dealing with matters
raised by the government in its April 15, 1997 Order in Council P.C. 1997-592.
Specifically, the government has requested the Commission to seek public comment,
and propose options regarding "...whether the establishment of one or more
additional Canadian national English-language, French-language or bilingual
television networks would serve the objectives of the broadcasting policy for
Canada set out in the Broadcasting Act..." and would serve, as well, the
six following priority objectives of the government:
- increasing the quality and quantity of Canadian programming available to
Canadians on television;
- contributing to a regional and national programming presence in the
Canadian broadcasting system;
- ensuring that all programming undertakings, whether as part of networks or
as part of station ownership groups, provide equitable support for Canadian
programming;
- enhancing Canada's capacity to produce and distribute domestic television
programs;
- maintaining and increasing the broadcast presence of distinct Canadian
programs; and finally,
- encouraging the availability of Canadian creative productions in the
international marketplace.
With me today, forming the panel which will consider all of the information
received throughout the public process, are: to my left, Commissioner Andrée
Wylie, and on her right, Vice-Chairman, Broadcasting, Charles Bélanger; to my far
right Regional Commissioner for Ontario, Gail Scott; and on my near right, David
Colville, Vice-Chairman Telecommunications. Assisting members of the Commission,
staff include: the Hearing Manager Nick Ketchum; and Legal Counsel Donald
Rhéaume. Diane Santerre will serve as Secretary of the Hearing.
The government's Order focuses primarily on the question of whether new
national television networks should be established. To answer this question, it
will be necessary to review the overall structure and competitive landscape of
the conventional broadcasting system. In addition, the Commission will wish to
explore whether there is a need to redefine the framework by which multi-station
owners, operators of regional and national television networks, and other major
purchasers of program rights, can maximize their contributions to Canadian
programming objectives. We will also wish to determine whether the CRTC's
existing licensing approach is the most efficient and equitable means to ensure
that these players can act effectively in pursuing the objectives of the
Broadcasting Act and the priorities set out in the Order.
Clearly, conventional broadcasters, both private and public, are pillars of
the Canadian broadcasting system. We want to make certain that their contribution
continues, that it is supported by the most efficient licensing and ownership
structure, that it is enhanced wherever possible, and finally, that
responsibility for Canadian programming is shared in an equitable fashion by all
players, and across all systems.
I want to emphasize that it is not the purpose of the current proceeding to
consider specific strategies for the creation and exhibition of Canadian
television programming. Such strategies and other programming-related issues, as
indicated in our Vision working plan, will be the subject of a separate public
process, scheduled for late summer of 1998. You will remember that summer ends at
the end of September. As I have said, this present hearing will focus on the
structure of the television broadcasting industry, and how that structure can
best be configured to maximize the Canadian programming contributions of its
larger components.
At the same time, it is important to recognize the linkages that exist between
the issues to be examined at the two proceedings. The present hearing focuses on
an analysis of the structure of the television industry and making
recommendations concerning the licensing of additional television outlets. The
second proceeding will examine the regulatory framework for Canadian programming.
We expect that both proceedings will contribute significantly to our
understanding of the linkages between these two areas and, ultimately, to the
quality of our policy determinations.
All three components of the Vision developed by the Commission lie at the
heart of the matters we will discuss over the next three days. By these
components, I mean Voices, Choices and Good Governance.
Policy hearings such as this are an important opportunity for the Commission,
industry groups and the public to join together in a genuine and fruitful
dialogue, free of the constraints of the more formal licensing procedure. The
issues we will discuss this week, and at future hearings, cannot be resolved by
one party acting in isolation. Just as you depend upon our fairness and good
judgement, we depend upon your willingness to participate, to play an active role
in the development of policies affecting the communications environment, and to
share your knowledge and experience.
The success of the Canadian broadcasting system has relied heavily on the
ability of broadcasters, the regulator and the public to discuss issues of
importance - together - and in an open forum. I welcome this positive,
co-operative spirit, and we look forward very much to the next three days. In
this proceeding, of the approximately 20 parties who requested an opportunity to
make an oral presentation of their comments, all have been accommodated. Many
others participated through written comments only. I assure you that these carry
the same weight in our decision making as the oral presentations we are about to
hear.
Now, a few technical details. We will sit each day from, more or less,
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In order to make the most effective use of the time
available, we will allow parties a maximum of 10 minutes to make their
presentations. This will be followed by questioning led by one of the
Commissioners. The Commission hopes to submit its report to the government by
February or early March 1998. I believe we are now ready to begin. To all, a good
hearing. Madame Secretary, would you please introduce the first group to appear
this morning.
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Contact: CRTC Communications Branch, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Tel.: (819) 997-5427, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
This document is available in alternative format upon request.
Date Modified: 1997-11-05 |
