Comment: Increase funding for the CBC, Cancon

In 2008 the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) would like to see positive changes which will strengthen and grow the Canadian film and television industry. In what is certain to be an election year, we are hopeful that our issues will be given a priority during the election campaign, and that the party that forms the government will view culture as an important and integral part of their agenda. Our culture reflects who we are and constant vigilance is necessary to ensure Canadian voices, and that stories aren't lost in a sea of foreign influence. It is important that our next government make culture a priority on an on-going basis after the election.The reintroduction of Canadian programming expenditure requirements for private conventional broadcasters is very high on our wish-list. Since the adoption of the 1999 CRTC Television Policy, spending by these broadcasters on original Canadian dramatic programming has been in a free-fall. These are sophisticated broadcasters that have extensive resources. They should be required to adequately support the creation of Canadian programming. This is consistent with the public policy objectives of the Broadcasting Act, and the mandates of these Canadian broadcasters.Also important for the DGC is our public broadcaster, the CBC/Radio-Canada. The DGC fully supports the presence of a strong and vibrant public broadcasting service for Canada and hopes for increased support and funding for our national broadcaster. The CBC is an essential and integral part of our broadcasting system, and provides an important window on the Canadian experience and Canadian creative expression. In order for the CBC to properly fulfil its mandate, it is essential that it receive increased and stable funding from the federal government now and in the years ahead. The DGC also supports the continuance of the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) holding an important place within the broadcasting system for Canadian voices, points of view and ways of expressing ourselves. To that end, we hope that the CTF remains a fund for 10-point Canadian productions for television broadcast. We do not support recent CRTC recommendations to split the fund into different streams for public and private monies. Moreover, cable and satellite companies should be required to increase their contribution to Canadian programming and the CTF from 5% of revenues to 6%. Finally, new media productions require a stronger, more substantial system of support. It is important for Canada to build a strong presence in this area now. In this new and changing environment, it is necessary that high end Canadian productions be made available to Canadians, and internationally. The opportunity is there for Canadians to be leaders in this respect, and we hope that the conditions for this type of innovation, be it increased government funding or ISP levies, be established in order to take advantage of this opportunity.We sincerely hope this will be achievable in 2008 and certainly will continue to work to that end. -Monique Lafontaine, general counsel and director of regulatory affairs, Directors Guild of Canada

Comment: Increase funding for the CBC, Cancon

Broadcast | December 20, 2007

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