OTTAWA – Despite complaints about the CRTC’s decision to allow the new owners of Quebec private conventional TV broadcaster to dramatically cut local programming, Minister of Canadian Heritage Josee Verner said late Friday she’s not going to get involved.
The TQS union and the opposition Liberals had demanded the decision to let Remstar Diffusion take over the broadcaster while cutting local news to the bone be referred back to the CRTC for a re-think.
Without Remstar’s bid to purchase, it’s thought that former co-owners Cogeco Inc. and CTVglobemedia were tired of losing money with the station and were considering shutting it down.
"As a responsible government, we have taken into consideration the viewers’ interests, local information, and the economic viability of TQS," said Minister Verner in a release. "Under the current circumstances, we are making the best and the only conceivable decision to ensure the diversity of voices in the French-language television market, as well as the network’s survival and growth. Our Government is engaged in assuring a strong Canadian broadcasting system, a strong production sector, and to the creation of quality Canadian content that is accessible to all.
"Although the Broadcasting Act and CRTC policies do not require broadcasters to carry a specific level of local programming and news, the CRTC has made an exception and required TQS to broadcast local programming and news," added Verner. "The decision made by the CRTC is in line with the Government’s support of the importance of maintaining a locally or regionally produced information service.
"Our objective is to enable TQS to rebuild its audience and improve its financial position, so that Francophones can continue to have access to a third general-interest television network and a diversity of voices and news,” she concluded.
