Speech
Opening remarks
by Charles Bélanger
Vice-Chairman - Broadcasting,
Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission
at the 1 December 1997 Public Hearing
Hull, Quebec
December 1, 1997
(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Charles Bélanger, and I am
Vice-Chair - Broadcasting of the CRTC. On behalf of my colleagues and Commission
staff, I welcome you to this proceeding, in which we will examine the
Commission's policies for commercial radio.
I would like to introduce to you my colleagues who will be questioning the
parties in this oral phase of the proceeding. To my right is Françoise Bertrand,
the Chairperson of the CRTC, on my left is Commissioner Andrée Wylie, and on her
left, Commissioner Garth Dawley. Assisting us this week as members of the
Commission's staff are Legal Counsels Carolyn Pinsky and Anne-Marie Murphy. Our
Hearing Manager is Martine Vallee, and Elena Del Villano will serve as Secretary
of the Hearing.
Over the next four days, we will be discussing the challenges confronting
Canada's private commercial radio industry in an evolving communications
environment. Together, we will try to determine whether we are still using the
most appropriate tools to ensure that the objectives of the Broadcasting Act
are met. This public hearing is but one aspect of a comprehensive review of radio
by the Commission - a review that, when completed, will have also included an
examination of the CBC's radio services and of the services provided by the
various kinds of not-for-profit radio stations.
On the public file of this hearing on private commercial radio are two sets of
written comments addressing a number of industry-related issues. The file also
contains some research on these matters and this material shall form the basis
for our discussions this week. I should mention that parties are invited to
submit final written argument regarding the proposals and research that have been
submitted as part of the written and oral phases of this proceeding. Parties will
have until Thursday, the 18th of this month, to file any final argument.
The Commission's announcement of its intent to review the policies for
commercial radio included a call for comments on a wide range of matters. In
their submissions, interested parties have identified three salient issues, and
these will likely be the focus of most of the discussion over the course of this
hearing.
The first issue is whether the Commission should revise its policy that
currently limits the common ownership of radio stations to one AM and one FM
outlet operating in the same language, in the same market. With the help of all
parties, the Commission will consider what are the best means to ensure the
financial well-being of the radio industry. In weighing the various options,
however, we must bear in mind that the primary objective of this exercise is to
provide the basis for strengthened "cultural" contributions by the industry
towards attaining the objectives of the Broadcasting Act.
The second issue relates to Canadian content in music, and the use of Canadian
program production in general. Once we have taken a good look at the current
health of the Canadian radio industry, we will be examining what approach will
best ensure that the programming broadcast by commercial radio stations remains
predominantly Canadian. We will also be seeking to determine the most effective
means to guarantee Canadian artists continued access to their airwaves in an
increasingly competitive environment. For this to occur, the Canadian recording
industry must become stronger, and the popularity of Canadian music must
increase. Most importantly, the radio industry, the recording industry and the
Commission must learn to work together much more closely than we have in the past
to achieve these objectives.
The third issue pertains to French-language vocal music, and the role that
French-language radio stations play in reflecting Canadian society, most
particularly its linguistic duality. Any review of our policies in this area must
take place against the background of the Commission's responsibilities to ensure
a diversity of quality programming for francophone audiences. We are thus very
keen to explore means of ensuring this presence is fostered.
This hearing is an opportunity to bring substance and relevance to each of the
three major pillars of the Vision developed by the Commission, namely Voices,
Choices and Good Governance. Our efforts in this proceeding will be to ensure the
presence and diversity of Canadian voices, and a wide array of choices. Under
good governance, we will conduct this hearing using a different format that we
hope will help to promote discussion and exploration of issues between the
Commission and the parties, and between the parties themselves.
It has been six months since I have joined the Commission. I would like to
thank Françoise Bertrand to have invited me to chair this new, untried and
challenging format of this key cultural and industrial, commercial radio review
policy. To me, today's set-up is symbolic of an attempt to bring the most
important parties, and I would dare say partners, at the same table. Rather than
to come each at its turn to make their views and position known and shared, we
will have them together, listening and being attentive to each argument.
Hopefully, at the end of the day and for a long time to come, this approach will
be conducive for us all to realize that we all need one another to conduct
fruitful and profitable businesses for the betterment of our fellow Canadian
listeners.
The Commission sees the development of greater trust and cooperation between
the radio broadcasting and music recording industries as key to achieving our
shared objectives. We view the CRTC as having an important role to play in
fostering better communication among all parties. The work that commences with
this hearing should not be permitted simply to end with the publication of the
Commission's policy. We see a great potential benefit in holding future, ongoing
public discussions and round table meetings with the parties concerned.
Meanwhile, as you will have noted, our arrangement of the furniture for this
hearing is somewhat unusual. It reflects our strong desire to facilitate a
dialogue between broadcasters and the recording industry. Throughout the week,
the Panel and Commission staff will sit at these tables, and we will be asking a
number of different parties to come up at the same time and share space at the
tables opposite. Then, before concluding the hearing on Thursday, we will invite
all of the participants to join with us in a round table discussion of what
policies and strategies for commercial radio should emerge from this proceeding.
I realize that these procedures are a departure from the traditional approach
you are familiar with. Nevertheless, we encourage, indeed expect, all parties to
join in this discussion in a spirit of cooperation and respect for each other.
Approximately 35 parties have asked for the opportunity to present their views
orally to the Panel at this hearing, and all have been invited to do so. Several
other parties have filed written comments, and I assure them that these views
will be considered in our decision making along with the oral presentations we
are about to hear.
Unless otherwise announced in advance, we will sit each day from 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m., except on Wednesday, when we will be obliged by other Commission
business to adjourn at 2:30 p.m. Given the number of participants and the scope
of the issues to be discussed, and depending on the progress we make, it may be
necessary to carry on beyond the hour of six o'clock on one or more of the
evenings. To make the most effective use of the time available, we intend to
allot most parties a maximum of 10 minutes to make their presentations. In the
case of the Canadian Broadcasters Association, the Canadian Independent Record
Producers Association, and l'Association de l'industrie du disque, du
spectacle et de la vidéo, we will permit presentations to run somewhat
longer. This is in recognition of the leadership roles these organizations play
in the broadcasting and recording industries. Following each presentation, Panel
members will have questions on matters we wish to discuss further with the
parties. I would respectfully ask all parties to be direct and concise in their
answers, always keeping in mind the issues before us.
I believe we are just about ready to begin, but I turn first to Carolyn Pinsky
to make some administrative announcements. I wish you all a good hearing.
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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: 1997-12-01 |
