OTTAWA – On its final day before the CRTC to consider its licence renewal, CBC/Radio-Canada once again called for a flexible regulatory framework to allow it to “evolve with the landscape.”
In concluding two weeks of public hearings the corporation used the opportunity to reiterate its commitment to the “essential and unique role that the public broadcaster plays in the Canadian broadcasting system,” the challenges it faces in fulfilling that role, and the need for regulatory flexibility and additional revenue opportunities to meet those challenges.
"We have a clear mandate from Parliament and a clear vision of where we're going," said Hubert T. Lacroix, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. "Most of the people that appeared before the Commission over the past two weeks want us to do more of what we're doing: more Canadian programs, more documentaries, more original programs, more children's programming, more regional reflection of their interests, more exposure to their communities or artists."
"We've made very strong regulatory commitments on which we will deliver over the licence term," continued Lacroix. "What we are seeking, given the changes in the broadcast environment, is a more flexible regulatory framework to allow us to evolve with the landscape, along with the ability to self-generate new revenues that will allow us to continue offering the service that Canadians expect and deserve from their public broadcaster."
"What we saw over the past few weeks was a passion for, interest in and relevance of the national public broadcaster. We appreciate this enthusiasm for our services and hope that the Commission will see in our proposals a serious and credible attempt to reconcile all of these demands with our mandate and our economic reality," concluded Lacroix.
CBC/Radio-Canada says it looks forward to the CRTC's decision, which is expected to take several months to deliver.
