Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and
Communications
Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA,Tuesday, April 8, 1997
(16)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 3:31 p.m., the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Senator J. Michael Forrestall, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Atkins, De Bané, Forrestall, Gigantès, Graham, Losier-Cool, MacDonald (Halifax), Maheu, Mercier, Poulin, Roberge and Spivak. (13)
In attendance: Terrence J. Thomas, Research Officer, Economics Division, Research Branch, Library of Parliament; Matthew W. Fraser, Expert Consultant; Michel Patrice, Legislative Clerk, Committees and Private Legislation Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission:
Françoise Bertrand, Chairperson;
Wayne Charman, Director General, Broadcast Distribution and Technology Branch;
Anne-Marie Des Roches, Administrator, French-language Broadcasting;
Alastair Stewart, Legal Counsel.
Francis Fox
From the Consumers' Association of Quebec:
Françoise Drolet, President;
Claude Ouellet, General Director.
From the Specialty and Premium Television Association:
Jane Logan, President;
Michel Arpin, Vice-President, Business Development, Radiomutuel Inc.;
Gérald Janneteau, President, Réseau des sports;
Pierre Roy, President, Réseau Premier Choix;
John Riley, President, Teletoon.
From the Association des câblodistributeurs du Québec:
Guy R. Beauchamp, President and Chief Executive Officer, CF Câble TV Inc.;
Jacques Bégin, Vice-President and Director General, Cogeco Câble Inc.;
Michel Bissonnette, Vice-President Marketing, Vidéotron Ltée;
Marcel Bujold, President of the Association des câblo-distributeurs du Québec and President of Câblodistribution G. Inc.;
Lysline Parenteau, Director General;
Édouard Trépanier, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Le Groupe Vidéotron Ltée.
From the Canadian Cable Television Association:
Jay Thomson, Vice-President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs;
Charles King, Director, Government Relations.
From the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada:
Jacques Michaud, President;
Yvon Samson, General Director;
Sophie Galarneau, Communications Agent.
From the Canadian Association of Broadcasters:
Michael McCabe, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Cynthia Rathwell, Legal Counsel;
Angela Roberge, Social Policy Analyst.
From the Department of Canadian Heritage:
Victor Rabinovitch, Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Development and Heritage;
Larry Durr, Director, Regulatory Policy, Broadcasting Policy Branch.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 3, 1996, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy).
The witnesses from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "5".
Francis Fox made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by Francis Fox be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "6".
The witnesses from the Consumers' Association of Quebec Inc. made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Consumers' Association of Quebec Inc. be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "7".
The witnesses from the Specialty and Premium Television Association made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Specialty and Premium Television Association be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "8".
The witnesses from the Association des câblodistributeurs du Québec made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Association des câblodistributeurs du Québec be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "9".
At 6:38 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 7:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.
The witnesses from the Canadian Cable Television Association made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Canadian Cable Television Association be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "10".
The witnesses from the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "11".
The witnesses from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed, -- THAT the presentation by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters be filed with the clerk of the committee as Exhibit 5900 T1-2.35/C-216, 12, "12".
The witnesses from the Department of Canadian Heritage made a statement and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved that Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy) be amended as follows:
Page 1, clause 1: strike out lines 16 to 18 and substitute the following therefor:
"rate is charged,
(B) no distinct separate charge is levied for that service, or
(C) to do so is conducive to the achievement of the objectives of this Act."
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved that Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy) be adopted as amended and that the Chair do so report to the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Timothy Ross Wilson
Clerk of the Committee