OTTAWA – The answer to the question of what’s going to happen to the Canadian Television Fund won’t be coming from the CRTC after all.
Less than two weeks after hearings into the fund and a CRTC task force report written on it late last year, the federal government announced late Wednesday it will decide what to do.
In her speech marking the opening of the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association 2008 Conference, “Prime Time” Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, Josee Verner said that while it wants recommendations from the CRTC, which took five days this month to hear from all stakeholders (search CTF on Cartt.ca for the background stories there), the federal government will make the final call on what the Canadian Television Fund will look like going forward.
In January 2007, the Government of Canada committed $240 million in funding over two years (2007-2008 and 2008-2009) to ensure the production of Canadian programming, said Verner’s Ministry’s statement. Following criticism from some private sector contributors (namely Shaw Communications and Videotron, both of whom pulled their contributions from the fund 12 months ago), the CRTC created a task force on the CTF and conducted public hearings from February 4 to 8, 2008, at which the principal stakeholders expressed their views.
The Government is now asking the CRTC to present recommendations to inform the government’s decisions regarding the CTF.
"Our government takes the need for change at the CTF seriously and values the CRTC’s input," said Minister Verner this evening. "The Government of Canada is committed to a strong Canadian broadcasting system and a strong production sector. We encourage the creation of quality Canadian content and the long-term viability of funding for Canadian content."
The request to the CRTC has been made pursuant to section 15 of the Broadcasting Act, under which the Governor in Council can request the CRTC hold hearings or make reports.
