The sound of silence: Why so little debate about the Heritage Committee Report?

Listen! Do you hear the silence? That’s the response so far prompted by Our Cultural Sovereignty, the mammoth report on this country’s broadcasting system tabled in June by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. Aside from the flurry of news coverage that greeted its publication, discussion of the report has been muted, to say the least. Granted, this 872-page opus is no one’s idea of beach reading. But you’d think that such a comprehensive overview of our television and radio industries - the first of its kind in nearly two decades - would be the subject of intense public debate. Is the Heritage Committee report destined to vanish into the bureaucratic void? Heaven knows, it wouldn’t be the first such document to meet this fate. But for the sake of Canadian viewers, broadcasters and producers, let’s hope not. The events of recent months have illustrated the range and complexity of the problems confronting the television system. Cutbacks to the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) have heightened a growing concern about the decline of Canadian drama. Debate over foreign ownership in the broadcast sector has polarized the industry and underscored the conflict between the two departments - Industry and Canadian Heritage - that share jurisdiction over broadcasting. In the background, meanwhile, looms the prospect of a wholesale transformation for the broadcast system, ushered in by the advent of digital TV and other new technologies, such as personal video recorders. We may soon witness a dramatic change in the way people consume television - and with that, the emergence of a whole new business model for the industry. If ever we needed a clear and cohesive vision for the future of television, now is the time. And the Heritage Committee report furnishes that vision. Among other things, it recommends the creation of a single federal department of communications, a measure designed to eliminate the departmental overlap that now hampers policy-making efforts. It gives the CBC a vote of confidence, recommending more money and more autonomy for the Mother Corp., and calls for increased CTF funding as well. Further, it suggests we need to be cautious in allowing consolidation of the media industry, and recommends a moratorium on new broadcast licences for companies that own newspapers. Committee members also delved into areas of the industry often overlooked in the discussion of broadcast policy. Most notably, they devoted an entire section of the report to Canada’s not-for-profit broadcasters - a category that includes CPAC, VisionTV and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, along with the provincial educational services. These "public service" broadcasters make a significant contribution to the television system, offering a range of distinctively Canadian programs for audiences typically under-served by commercial stations. They are also among the most vulnerable players in our industry. As small, independent operations, they lack the economies of scale, the marketing resources and the corporate clout that the major media conglomerates enjoy. The Heritage Committee report takes a welcome step toward ensuring greater protection for public service networks, proposing an amendment to the Broadcasting Act that would recognize the "integral" role they play. It also urges that the CRTC make certain viewers continue to enjoy "fair access" to these essential services. Any policy decisions the government makes on the basis of Our Cultural Sovereignty will determine what Canadian TV looks like for decades to come. The report provides a much-needed map for an industry at the crossroads. So why aren’t we talking more about it? Bill Roberts is president and CEO of VisionTV.

The sound of silence: Why so little debate about the Heritage Committee Report?

News | 07/31/2003 4:00 am EDT

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