QUEBEC’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY doesn’t want Canada’s broadcasting regulator to review regulations on broadcasting.
At least that’s the conclusion that one could reach through a literal reading of a motion passed unanimously in the legislature last week.
The motion, presented with less than an hour’s notice by Parti Québécois culture critic Véronique Hivon on Sept. 29, states that the Assembly “denounces the will of the CRTC to review the requirements for French-language music broadcast in Quebec” and reiterates the importance of French-language music quotas on radio stations. It passed 100-0.
The resolution comes two months after the Commission announced it is reviewing rules for French-language music on the radio at an upcoming hearing in November.
The notice of consultation doesn’t make any propositions to lower quotas — currently 65% of vocal music on French radio stations must be in French — but does refer in general to giving French-language private broadcasters “greater flexibility.”
This was interpreted by some in the Quebec media as the Commission opening the door to, or even proposing, the reduction or elimination of the French music quota.
The truth is that the music quota is on the table for discussion (and Quebec radio stations are pushing for it to be lowered), but so is everything else related to regulation of French music stations. This review is necessary because of changes in the industry. The increasing use of musical montages to get around language quotas became an issue and the Commission needs a better solution than to just limit the number of montages a station can air. The rise of bilingual songs also creates regulatory problems – and emerging francophone artists are still having trouble getting exposure on the radio.
Calling for the Commission to maintain its French-language quotas is entirely reasonable (though the legislature missed the deadline for comments by 26 days), but denouncing the CRTC for simply conducting a regulatory review at all makes no sense.
