Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to talk about the importance of the cultural sector, its future and its workers. I am pleased to do so. The cultural sector provides 172,000 jobs across the country for artists, creators, broadcasters, writers and video game programmers. They perform a multitude of roles in front of and behind the camera, on stage and behind the scenes. Behind a show are screenwriters, crews and sound and editing specialists. Behind an album are artists, directors, technicians and partners who work to bring it to audiences. Each new project creates work for those teams. It allows businesses to draw on their suppliers, gives emerging professionals an opportunity to gain experience, and enables established workers to pass on their know-how. That is how an industry is through: through a continuous stream of projects, the experience gained along the way and the capacity to reinvest in future opportunities. We want to preserve that expertise in Canada. We want to empower businesses to build on their successes. We want Canadian artists, workers and cultural enterprises to be able to build their future here. We want their talents to translate into projects, jobs and opportunities for growth both at home and abroad. Their contribution, through their creativity, expertise and dedication, extends far beyond the economy. These are the people who bring to life the stories that define us, that reflect the diversity of our experiences and that showcase Quebec and Canadian culture at home and abroad. Our talented artists have demonstrated their ability to connect with audiences around the world. In recent years, television series such as Empathie and Heated Rivalry have enjoyed great success. Artists such as the members of Angine de Poitrine, whose alien language is somewhat beyond me, are making their mark all over the world. Robert Lepage, Denis Villeneuve and Yannick Nézet‑Séguin are all artists who are a source of pride for us and who are recognized both here and abroad. Their success raises the profile of our creators and the expertise of our teams. We want others to be able to follow in their footsteps and develop their careers. We recognize, however, that the sector is facing significant challenges. Traditional media revenues are under pressure, audience habits continue to evolve, and companies must adapt their business models. When a production is delayed, the consequences are felt by the whole team; contracts become less frequent and income less predictable. The next generation may find fewer opportunities to learn and gain initial experience. In the long term, this uncertainty may jeopardize our ability to retain talent and keep experienced teams in place. We must address immediate needs while laying the groundwork for future growth. Last June, our government announced a $600-million investment to provide stability and immediate support to the audiovisual sector. We recognize the importance of this investment, which will be distributed to the sector as soon as possible. This is a commitment the government has made. We want to support the ability to create and distribute Canadian content. We also want to keep services accessible and affordable so that families can continue to watch Canadian movies and TV shows and listen to our artists. The sector’s strength also relies on fair contributions by all broadcasting system participants, including online streaming services, to support the creation and promotion of Quebec and Canadian content. The Online Streaming Act made it possible to incorporate these services into the broadcasting framework. The CRTC developed the regulatory obligations applicable to the audio and audiovisual sector. We announced our plans to review certain requirements, draft new policies and maintain strong support for our content while taking the different business models and the cost of services to households into account. We are also looking for ways to modernize our institutions and the funding mechanisms that support the audiovisual industry. We want our policy tools to better support companies throughout their development, from the creation of a project to its dissemination to audiences. The advisory group that met this year underscored the importance of intellectual property, distribution, audience development and revenue. We want Canadian businesses to be able to keep more of the value inherent in their creations. This would enable them to reinvest, develop new projects and strengthen their presence in the market. We are also looking into creating a new federal body that would merge Telefilm Canada, the National Film Board and the Canada Media Fund and broaden their mandates. However, a decision has not yet been made in that regard. The sector’s future also depends on skills and workers. Artificial intelligence, which is important to mention, and all the changes in technology have changed the way things are done. What we want is for workers to be able to continue learning, for the next generation to develop its expertise and for businesses to have the ability to experiment and innovate. We want the regions and groups that face more barriers to also benefit from these opportunities. It is also important to mention indigenous sovereignty, as well as inclusion and fairness, which must also guide this discussion. We are also giving equal attention to people who work in our media sector. Producing accurate news requires journalists, production teams and time to investigate, verify facts and explain what is happening. Preserving this capacity is essential to democratic life, particularly when misinformation spreads quickly. In the spring economic update, we announced our intention to consult on expanding the Canadian journalism labour tax credit to include audio and audiovisual production. We want the future of these sectors to offer opportunities in all communities. Francophone creators must be able to create and reach their audiences. Indigenous creators must be able to share their stories and languages. Official language minority communities must see their realities reflected in our media. This diversity fuels creativity and enriches the content available to the public. It contributes to our sense of belonging and strengthens the bonds between communities. We therefore want to support an industry capable of offering opportunities to these workers, developing talent, and helping local businesses in this sector to grow. As we prepare for this future, we will support jobs and the expertise that is so valuable. We are also preserving our ability to create right here in Canada, from coast to coast to coast. We want to tell our stories, the stories of all the different communities in our beautiful country, and share them with the world, not just here at home. I will now answer my colleagues’ questions.
