Marilyn Gladu

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Madawaska—Restigouche. I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to discuss the essential place of francophone culture in the digital environment, as well as the tools we, as a government, have to support the creators, artists, journalists, cultural workers and businesses that bring Canadian stories to life. Culture is at the heart of Canadian identity. It brings us together, helps us better understand our communities and contributes to the vitality of our democracy. Songs we sing together, programs that spark conversations and news stories that help us understand current events all contribute to our sense of belonging. In Quebec, as across Canada, the cultural sector plays a vital economic role. Behind every audiovisual production, every album, every performance venue and every newsroom are workers, businesses, skills and careers that contribute to the prosperity of our country. At the same time, the media and cultural production sectors are going through a period of profound transformation. Consumption habits have changed rapidly. Traditional revenues are under pressure, business models are evolving, and financing has become increasingly uncertain for many cultural activities. In this context, it is essential that we preserve the strength of our cultural ecosystem while adapting to today’s digital realities. For more than half a century, Canada’s broadcasting system has been guided by a fundamental principle: Those who benefit from access to the Canadian market should also contribute to its development. This principle has helped support Canadian creation, sustain our artists and ensure that our stories reach audiences across this country. However, the media landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Online streaming services now play a central role in how Canadians watch films and television series, discover music and access content. This is precisely why Parliament modernized the Broadcasting Act through the Online Streaming Act. The objective was not to preserve the system exactly as it existed in the past but to ensure that it remained relevant and effective in the digital age. The Online Streaming Act established that streaming services that benefit from access to the Canadian market should also contribute to the creation and promotion of Canadian content. All broadcasters, whether traditional or online, should make a meaningful contribution to Canada’s broadcasting ecosystem. Within this framework, the CRTC is responsible for implementing directions established by Parliament and defining the obligations that apply to various participants in the cultural system. These measures are particularly important for francophone creators. The act recognized the unique situation of French in Canada and North America, as well as the specific challenges associated with creating, distributing and ensuring the discoverability of French-language content. In a global digital environment where the volume of available content is innumerable, discoveries remain an ongoing challenge for francophone works. It is not enough for our artists to create exceptional content. Audiences must also be able to find it, discover it and engage with it. That is why the issue of discoverability occupies an increasingly important place in cultural policy discussions both in Canada and around the world. Alongside this regulatory work, our government recognizes the challenges facing the cultural sector and the importance of providing the stability it needs during this period of transition. It is in this context that this government announced a $600-million investment to support Canada’s audio and audiovisual sectors. Work is continuing on the implementation of this commitment, and we will share further details as it progresses. The government’s objective remains clear. We must support the creation of Canadian content to help ensure the future of our artists and cultural workers, and to maintain services that remain accessible and affordable to Canadians. We are also undertaking a broader examination of the institutions, programs and support mechanisms that contribute to the development of Canada’s audiovisual sector. We want to ensure that our policies continue to reflect the realities of today’s industry, enabling creators and cultural businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving environment. This important work must be guided by the communities our systems serve. Francophone creators must be able to tell their stories and reach their audiences in Quebec and across Canada. Indigenous creators must be able to share their perspectives and ensure indigenous languages are heard. Ultimately, the decisions we make today are not only about funding mechanisms or regulatory frameworks. They are about the jobs, businesses and talent that contribute to Canada’s economy. They are about the stories we choose to tell, the voices we want to hear and the cultural heritage we hope to pass on to future generations. Protecting our culture means protecting our ability to tell our own stories in our own languages, to ensure they continue to reach audiences here in Canada and around the world.”