Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Josée Verner

CFTPA Prime Time in Ottawa Conference Opening Reception

Ottawa, Ontario, February 20, 2008

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Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your welcome.

This is my first time at "Prime Time", and I want to thank you for your kind invitation. I know how important this event is to your industry. I want to congratulate the Canadian Film & Television Production Association (CFTPA) on what is clearly a high-calibre conference.

There is much to celebrate about the Canadian production scene. Your productions are nominated for awards and are earning accolades here and around the world. Foreign broadcasters and distributors are increasingly buying your television programs and films. And foreign producers continue to choose Canada as a world-class production venue.

The industry is rightly proud of these successes and so is our Government. 

Your industry is important to Canada and to Canadians. It contributes to our rich cultural life, helps craft our national identity, and is a valuable driver for our economy.

Still, the landscape is shifting, and past accomplishments are no longer a guarantee of future success. In today' s digital environment, the old ways of doing business soon won' t work any more. New platforms and evolving consumption habits are fundamentally transforming your sector.

In spite of its challenges, the digital age offers the possibility of growth for those who are willing to take risks. In this evolving environment, we have to adopt a new vision that breaks with the past.

As cultural entrepreneurs, producers must increasingly become creative leaders in the industry. Your drive and your ideas will enable you to succeed in this challenging business environment. They will allow you to take advantage of today' s and tomorrow' s opportunities, which promise great rewards.

At the centre of it all, there is content. In an open, global, and multi-platform world, success at reaching Canadians with Canadian content is the single most important objective. Content is the main reason for our Government' s support.  
The Government can ensure support for content, but you must capture and affect Canadian audiences.  For without audiences, public support for the creation of audiovisual content is simply not sustainable.

The industry now has the confidence, experience, and expertise required to develop solutions to these challenges and seize opportunities.

The Government of Canada provides significant support to content creation with several programs such as the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credit, the Canadian Television Fund, the Canada New Media Fund, or the Canada Feature Film Fund. We will continue to provide support, but will do so by adapting to the changing technological and business environment.

Make no mistake. This will not be about the status quo – this will be about change.  The months and years ahead will be marked by transformation; a transformation that will reward risk-takers.

In this transformation, our Government will be there to partner with you.

However, it can' t be about protection and privileges. It is about you being bold and confident in a world of choice!

I recognize your business is very challenging. For every success there are a number of failures. Films, television, and interactive programs are often produced without knowing whether or not audiences will like them. Each production is a prototype.

And the financial commitments must be made up front, before there is any possibility of a return.

I appreciate that while production costs are growing, the economics of the Canadian market pose substantial structural issues for audiovisual production, largely due to country' s relatively small population, large geography, and linguistic duality.

Our Government' s programs and policies must address your industry' s needs and challenges.  They must foster a healthy diversification of financing sources beyond public funding.

And because compelling, high-quality Canadian content is the Government' s priority, I would like to make the following announcement:

Exercising its authority under Section 15 of the Broadcasting Act, the Government has requested the CRTC provide a report with recommendations on the Canadian Television Fund (CTF).

As you know, the Commission has conducted public hearings on this matter, and our Government recognizes the value of these efforts.

We take the need for change at the CTF seriously. We will build on the work begun by the CRTC and focus on functional and sustainable solutions that reward excellence.

Our goal is to ensure a strong Canadian broadcasting system and a strong production sector. But we need to ensure the long-term viability of funding for Canadian content because it is the creation and the access to quality Canadian content that is paramount.

In conclusion, I want assure you of our Government' s support. I will ensure that our public policy toolkit remains effective, relevant, and sustainable in a changing business and technological environment.

Our Government' s approach is to develop long-term solutions.  

We are partners. The Government can be the facilitator. But you are the cultural entrepreneurs. This is your business. We will work with you so you can continue to succeed in the years ahead, with a renewed confidence, in a world of choice.

Thank you very much.