Minister Copps Calls for CPAC to be Available in Both Official Languages
OTTAWA, August 20, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced that the Government of Canada will direct the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to require most cable companies in Canada to distribute the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) on two separate video channels, one in English and one in French. This action is part of the Government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages released earlier this year."We have taken significant action on each of the Committee's recommendations," said Minister Copps. "We place a high priority on Canada's linguistic duality and want to ensure the widest possible range of broadcasting in both official languages across the country."
While some cable companies already offer CPAC in English and French on two channels, the new directive to the CRTC will ensure that 97 percent of cable subscribers in Canada will now be served in this way. Only the smallest cable companies, known as class 3 systems, will be exempt.
The Government of Canada will implement another of the Committee's recommendations by adding the CRTC to the list of designated federal institutions under the provisions of Part VII of the Official Languages Act.
Minister Copps stated that these measures recognize the key role of the CRTC in the promotion of the use of English and French in Canadian society. They are in line with the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages, which was announced in March 2003, and which reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to linguistic duality in Canada by strengthening its support for the development of minority language communities.
Minister Copps says the Government has already taken action on the Committee's three other recommendations and will report back to Parliament on its progress in the coming year.
- The Committee wanted the CRTC to develop a "bilingual market" concept that would better serve the needs of minority official-language communities. The Commission has already amended its regulations to ensure the availability of more broadcast services in both French and English in all markets.
- Another recommendation urged the CRTC to require satellite signal providers to distribute CBC regional television stations. This issue will be dealt with at the satellite providers' licence renewal hearings to be held by the CRTC later this year.
- The Committee's final recommendation was to ensure that Canadian hotels do not replace the CPAC signal with closed circuit video programming. The CRTC put this regulation in place last year, and will follow up to ensure it is implemented.
"I would like to thank members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages for their work. They have helped us take significant action to provide Canadians in every region of the country with the opportunity to receive broadcasting services in the official language of their choice," added Minister Copps.
The report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled Role and Responsibilities of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in Developments in the Area of Official Languages in Canada, was released in February 2003.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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