OTTAWA – Canadian Heritage minister Bev Oda said it would be “inappropriate to prejudge its review” of the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) currently underway by the CRTC, in her response earlier this week to a Parliamentary committee’s report on the private-public fund.
The government’s response to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s “The Funding Crisis of the Canadian Television Fund,” offered no opinions on the report’s conclusions.
Oda’s response consisted of a summary of events surrounding the funding crisis resulting when Shaw and Quebecor decided to withdraw their monthly contributions to the CTF. Those payments have since been resumed. It also included general comments about the industry, rather than endorsing or disagreeing with the report.
“Creating compelling Canadian content capable of competing with that from other countries (particularly the United States) is a constant economic challenge for Canadian television producers and broadcasters,” wrote Oda in her response to committee chair Gary Schellenberger. “At the same time, the changes occurring in the media environment also present opportunities to domestic producers and broadcasters.”
The government’s response then outlined the report’s findings, including its conclusion that the monthly payments be enshrined in CRTC regulation, that 37% of the CTF continue to be set aside for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and that the federal government’s annual contribution to the fund be made permanent.
Oda further noted, “The government is looking forward to receiving the CRTC’s final report and views on this important issue. The government is confident that the results of the work of the CRTC Task Force will contribute to a relevant and effective regulatory regime for Canadian content.”
The government’s response concludes by praising itself: “The government acted at a critical time for Canadian television production and ensured minimal disruption to the annual television production cycle and brought stability to the sector.”
