OTTAWA – The Canadian government has pledged $25 million over five years to TV5Monde and TV5 Quebec Canada.
The news came at the conclusion of the two day Conference of the Ministers responsible for TV5, held in Ottawa. Canada chaired the both the 2008 and 2009 editions of the conference, and its term as chair expires in January, 2010.
"Canada wanted to show the way by being the first partner government to announce an additional contribution of $25 million over five years to TV5Monde and TV5 Quebec Canada," said Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, in the announcement. "This investment addresses Prime Minister Harper’s announcement at the 2008 Francophonie Summit in Quebec City and demonstrates Canada’s commitment to TV5 and to increasing the visibility of Francophone culture around the world."
TV5 is the world’s largest French-language international television network. It is managed by TV5Monde in Paris, which is responsible for broadcasting nine TV5 signals around the world, and by TV5 Quebec Canada in Montreal, which manages the signal in Canada. It is the product of a partnership forged more than 20 years ago by five governments from the Francophonie: Canada, Quebec, France, Switzerland, and the French Community of Belgium.
Minister Moore also named Patrick J. Clune as a government representative on the board of directors of TV5 Quebec Canada, and re-appointed Marie-Linda Lord to her role as government representative.
Clune, who has held various creative positions in television production and advertising, is currently the owner of a video post-production facility called Digital Cut Post-Production. Lord is a full professor in the Information-Communication Program and holds the Chair in Acadian Studies at the Universite de Moncton.
