OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Well, this will douse some of the fire that was sure to burn at this week’s Canadian Film and Television Producers Association Prime Time conference in Ottawa beginning Wednesday evening.
With Heritage Minister Bev Oda and new CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein as scheduled speakers at the conference this week, one can bet that producers were prepared to pepper them with repeated questions on the Canadian Television Fund and TV production funding in Canada in general.
However, with Shaw’s announcement today that it will turn its cash spigot to the CTF back on plus this Commission announcement today that it will establish a task force on the CTF, the heat will be turned down at Prime Time.
Saying "longstanding concerns regarding the operation and governance of the CTF that were raised by various stakeholders, including Shaw and Quebecor, remain," the Commission launched its task force today. The deadline for its report is August 31, 2007.
Headed by vice-chair of broadcasting, Michel Arpin, the aim of the task force is to develop a consensus to resolve the concerns raised by stakeholders or, failing that, to set out possible options to resolve any remaining issues, says the Commission release.
The Task Force will make its final report public and "if it is required or deemed advisable based on this report, the Commission will then issue a public notice and hold a hearing," reads the release.
"The work of the Task Force requires intense interaction and the utmost openness between all stakeholders, and may necessitate the sharing of confidential information. The work must therefore be conducted in confidence."
So, the Commission will not comment further on this issue until the Task Force’s report is released. However, the Chairman will appear before Parliament later this week to answer questions about the process the task force will be following.
Here is the official mandate, composition and timing of the new task force.
To investigate issues related to the funding of Canadian programming and the governance of the CTF. Specific issues will include:
* The most effective use of the required contributions from BDUs
* The most appropriate size and structure of the CTF Board
* The most appropriate mechanisms to deal with real or perceived conflicts of interest at the CTF
* Following its investigation, the Task Force will make recommendations to the Commission.
Composition
* Michel Arpin, Vice-Chair of Broadcasting
* Nick Ketchum, Senior Director, Television Policy & Applications
* Randy Hutson, Senior Director, Distribution Policy & Applications
* Bernard Montigny, General Counsel, Broadcasting
Phase 1 – Consultations & Fact-Finding (19 Feb. – 27 April)
* Canadian Television Fund
* Shaw Communications
* Quebecor Media
* Other BDUs
* Heritage Canada
* Private Broadcasters
* Public and Educational Broadcasters
* Producers
* Independent TV Funds
* Unions (UDA – ACTRA – Guilds and others)
* Other relevant stakeholders
Phase 2 – CRTC Public Process, as required
* Release of the Task Force report
* Public Notice if required
Deadline for Final Report and Public Review – August 31, 2007.
