Summary
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This study focuses on the Canadian television production industry in relation to the Official Languages Act. It has three main objectives:
- Report on the production of television material—from conception to broadcasting—coming from the official language minority communities, both Anglophone and Francophone, and identify the main obstacles facing producers from these communities.
- Determine the place of French in the Canadian television production industry and on the air with regard to dubbing and children’s and youth programming.
- Make recommendations to the federal government under Parts VII and IX of the Official Languages Act, in order to ensure the continued development of a television production industry in minority communities and the vitality of French on Canadian airwaves.
Methodology
The data for drawing a portrait of Canadian television production were collected in two phases.
As a first step, we conducted a thorough literature review to obtain basic information on the regulations and various practices within the television industry, as well as on types of programs, funding and the requirements to which certain channels are subject.
The second step was to conduct some 15 interviews with key players in the area of Canadian television production who talked about the role of different organizations in television production in a minority context, their main policies and the legislative framework that governs their activities, as well as the issues and challenges of official language television production in a minority context.
The study mainly covers the period 2001–2002 to 2007–2008, where data were available.
Framework of Television Production
This study provides an overview of the parameters of television production and broadcasting in Canada and it presents the key decision makers, laws and policies that govern production activities as well as existing support and funding mechanisms.
The study examines the mandate and role of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. It also takes a look at the Broadcasting Act, which stipulates that Canadian television should promote linguistic duality on the air and promote programming in English and French that reflects the particular needs of each official language community, including those of the linguistic minorities. As for the support mechanisms for television production, the study addresses tax credits and the Canadian Television Fund (CTF).
Canadian Television Production in a Minority Context
Television production in minority communities, both the English-speaking community in Quebec and the French-speaking community outside Quebec, is a multifaceted reality that decision makers need to take into account. Despite some significant achievements in recent years, producers from these communities face a number of major challenges, such as the remoteness of decision makers, chronic underfunding, isolation, lack of development of the infrastructure and workforce, and the difficulty of access to the airwaves. The challenges affect Francophone producers in the regions in particular. Meanwhile, North American competition and an exodus of production companies to other major centres are significant challenges for the English-speaking community in Quebec.
The Commissioner has prepared a set of recommendations for key players with a view to ensuring that official language minority communities are properly reflected within the Canadian television landscape.
French on the Air, Animation Series and Dubbing
The study also looks at the various forms of expression of the French language on the air, with an examination of issues related to translation, dubbing and international co-production agreements. More specifically, the following issues are discussed: the production and broadcasting of original programming in French; the application of CTF funding envelopes to children’s and youth programming; and more generally, the “Canadian” content of animation series.
On the whole, there has been a decline in the production of original children’s programming in French for several years, as far as animation series are concerned. Programs aimed at children and youth are important for passing on language and culture at an early age. Francophone youth in particular need programs in which they can see themselves reflected.
The Government of Canada may not be able to meet its obligations and commitments under Part VII of the Official Languages Act if it allows the Canadian broadcasting system to broadcast programs primarily in a language that does not pass on Canada’s Francophone culture. The Commissioner of Official Languages is therefore proposing ways of improving the production and broadcasting of programs that reflect Francophone culture.
Conclusion
The Commissioner of Official Languages is of the view that, in addition to enriching and diversifying the Canadian television landscape, the implementation of the proposed measures will allow federal institutions to comply with Part VII of the Official Languages Act, which, since 2005, has required them to take positive measures to implement the obligation of the Canadian government to Anglophone and Francophone communities in a minority context and to promote the two official languages. The Commissioner believes that federal stakeholders must step up their efforts to ensure that television production and broadcasting better support both the development of the two official language minority communities and the vitality of the French language.
