CHPC Committee Report

List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage strongly condemns the actions taken by Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Media to withhold their monthly payments to the Canadian Television Fund, which precipitated a crisis in the television industry and took unnecessary time and effort from all parties involved, including the industry, the CRTC, the Department of Heritage, the Canadian Television Fund, and this committee; and further that it urges the Minister of Heritage to do the same.

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage supports the work of the Canadian Television Fund for reasons outlined by all witnesses appearing before the committee on this matter — with the exception of Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Media — including, but not limited to:

1. success in generating more than 23,000 hours of new Canadian television productions in English, French and aboriginal languages, which are crucial to the television industry and to the fostering of Canadian culture;
2. helping foster a Canadian television production industry that creates tens-of-thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, in the audio-visual industry and other spin-off industries;
3. leveraging addition investment in Canadian television production at a rate of $2.00–$3.30 for every Canadian Television Fund dollar allocated.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage urges the CRTC to amend the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations to stipulate that broadcasting distribution undertaking’s must make monthly, rather than annual, contributions to the Canadian Television Fund.

Recommendation 4

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the Canadian Television Fund maintains the following provisions:

1. that a minimum of 5% of contributors gross revenues from broadcast operations go to Canadian programming.
2. that 80% of the required contribution must go to the Canadian Television Fund.
3. that the Canadian Television Fund must set aside the equivalent of 37% of its total revenues for programs destined for the CBC/SRC.
4. that the Canadian Television Fund allocates funds exclusively to independent producers.

Recommendation 5

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government move the annual contributions to the Canadian Television Fund to A-base, permanent funding as a step toward true stability to the fund.

Recommendation 6

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage finds that it is unusual at the CRTC would engage in closed door hearings on the future of the Canadian Television Fund. Nonetheless, as the CRTC mandate is limited to payment obligations, and as the Canadian Television Fund is under the mandate of the Heritage Ministry, we recommend that any CRTC findings be brought back for public hearings mandated through the Heritage Ministry.