We are now at the close of the public hearing on the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation’s applications to renew its licences. Over the course of this hearing,
we’ve heard from many different people, all with very different ideas about the CBC.
A lot was said about the CBC, its unique role in the Canadian broadcasting system, and
how it should perform that role. Some of you suggested in great detail, how the CBC should
operate. Some of you even questioned whether the CBC should exist at all.
In response to some of these suggestions, I would like to say, very clearly, that we at
the Commission never intended to question the existence of the CBC. As defined in the Act,
we understand the importance of, and the need for, a strong public broadcaster in the
Canadian broadcasting system. In our opinion, the CBC has a crucial role to play in that
system. The CBC is and should remain a central and vital part of the Canadian broadcasting
system.
With that as our understanding, we said at the beginning of this hearing that we wished
to look at how the CBC intended to fulfill its mandate in the years ahead. The CBC’s
mandate is large, but its resources are limited and have shrunk dramatically over the past
licence term. Bearing these constraints in mind, some of the strategic issues in front of
the Commission are ones of balance. For example, we will have to examine:
- How resource allocation should be balanced within the CBC between the core radio and
television networks and other ventures that may form part of a larger constellation of
services?
- What is the proper balance between regional and national programming on both radio and
television?
- What is the most appropriate balance between dependence on government appropriations and
commercial revenues?
- With respect to CBC Television, what is the best balance between news, information,
entertainment and sports in real time?
- How should sports coverage be balanced between professional and amateur?
- How should program production be balanced between independent producers and CBC
producers? and
- What is the proper balance between the role of the CRTC in fulfilling its regulatory
mandate and not intruding in the day to day management of the CBC and of course the
responsibility of Parliament?
Of course, we wanted to hear from the CBC itself on these issues, but we also wanted to
hear from as many people as possible who were interested in the CBC. And we certainly
have. I don’t believe that anybody would disagree when I say that discussions around
the CBC stir up a lot of passion. We, as commissioners, have benefited greatly from your
passion for, and interest in, these issues.
The richness and breadth of all the views that have been presented to us will help
immeasurably when the Commission considers these issues. Up to now, we’ve only asked
the questions and listened with open minds to the answers. Now the difficult part begins
– assessing all of the views we heard to make our decisions.
We can say with certainty that we have all contributed in creating a complete and
valuable public record of this proceeding. This record will assist us in rendering a
decision on all CBC licence renewals.
We would like to thank the CBC for its tremendous cooperation with this hearing
process, both Radio-Canada and the CBC, both in radio and in television. You have promptly
provided us with a lot of crucial information that has allowed us to create very helpful
files.
So in closing, I would like to thank everyone for their participation in this hearing.
I would also like to thank those of you who took part in the public consultations and
those who made written comments. We deeply appreciate the time and effort you have spent
to help us develop a good understanding of your concerns and interests concerning the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. I know it has been a draining and difficult agenda for
everyone involved. Your contribution to this public process is essential in providing the
Commission with the information it needs to render balanced decisions.
I would also like to thank my colleagues for their participation, and those of you from
the Commission who have spent the past several weeks supporting and assisting us with this
hearing. Thank you Nick Ketchum and your team for keeping us informed and advised on the
relevant issues. I thank all of you in advance for the work that lies ahead in the coming
months. Thank you Alastair Stewart and Carolyn Pinsky, for advising us on legal concerns.
Big thanks as well to Diane Santerre and Carol Bénard, who as secretaries of this
hearing, managed this process and kept it running smoothly.
Thank yous also go out to the CPAC and radio team who broadcast this hearing, as well
as to our translating staff and our steno-typists. I would like to thank those of you who
provided the other services
that we had available to us over the course of this hearing. And I would like to thank
the CRTC’s other employees, perhaps not here in this room, but who also contributed
their efforts to make sure this hearing went well.
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Contact: Denis Carmel, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Tel.:
(819) 997-9403, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 997-4245
e-mail: denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
This document is available in alternative format upon request.
