Adding up the bill for the broadcasting review

The cost of the broadcast study currently underway by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage could top $1.4 million, according to a tallying of approved expenses. The broadcast review, which officially began on Nov. 8, 2001, is now into its second year (see story in this issue) and many industry observers wonder whether any meaningful reform will result from the long – and costly – process (CCR, Jan. 31/02, Nov. 22/01, Nov. 9/01). Are the broadcasting industry and Canadian taxpayers getting full value for their money? You be the judge. Below is a list of expenses approved by the committee and publicly released to date relating to the broadcasting review. It is not clear whether the full amounts were actually spent or whether approved amounts ran over budget. Some of the most recent proposed expenses have yet to be approved by the Sub-Committee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee. 1. Operational budget in the amount of $314,065 adopted for the period November 2002-March 31, 2003. Amount to be used for the following: Preparation of an overview of selected issues related to the regulation of broadcasting in selected countries. Work to be performed by Richard Paradis of Le Groupe CIC, Montreal, and submitted no later than Jan. 15, 2003. Cost: $10,000. Preparation of a report on ownership of Canadian broadcast media and an analysis of the issues raised by concentration of ownership, cross-media convergence of ownership, and lifting or maintaining foreign ownership restrictions. Work to be conducted by Le Centre d’études sur les médias, based in Quebec City, and submitted no later than Jan. 15, 2003. Cost: $12,700. Preparation of graphic design for the standing committee’s report to the House of Commons. Work to be performed by Gibson Product Design. Cost: $25,000. Contracting consultant Keith Fagan to provide technical advice to the committee. Cost: $6,000. Contracting consultant David Keeble to provide technical assistance to the committee. Work to be completed by Jan. 16, 2003. Cost: $6,000. Contracting consultant Alan Cofman to provide research support to the committee for 15 days at $300/day for a total amount not to exceed $4,500. Contracting David Black as a consultant to assist in organizing the work of the committee between Nov. 7, 2002 and June 20, 2003. Cost: Per diem rate of $600 for a total amount not to exceed $68,400 up to March 31, 2003. Contracting Professors Marc Raboy and David Taras to consult and advise in the management of the review, and for travel to and from Ottawa and accommodation in Ottawa, between Nov. 7, 2002 and March 31, 2003. Cost: Per diem rate of $600 for an average of seven days per month to March 31, 2003. Total cost at seven days per month equals $25,200 per professor. 2. Travel to Washington DC and London UK from Jan. 16-23, 2003. Cost $155,748.64. 3. Travel to Willson House Government Conference Centre, Meech Lake, from Jan. 27-28, 2003 to consider a draft report. Cost: $5,845.80. 4. Travel expenses for Professors Marc Raboy and David Taras to accompany the committee on any travel undertaken in the course of the review. Cost: Not to exceed $129,000 and to be paid for by Canadian Heritage. 5. Operational budget in the amount of $200,000. 6. Travel to Iqaluit, Whitehorse, and Yellowknife for public hearings from May 26-31, 2002. Cost $160,000. 7. Travel to Quebec and Atlantic Canada (St. John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, and Moncton) for public hearings in April 2002. Cost $132,600. 8. Travel to Western Canada, Toronto, and Montreal for public hearings. Cost $231,000. 9. Operational budget in the amount of $237,600.* * Includes expenses for study of Bill C-10. Total below assumes half of this amount was used for broadcasting review. Potential Total Costs: $1,447,059.40

Adding up the bill for the broadcasting review

News | 12/05/2002 5:00 am EST

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