Source : NDP

Blames Oda for precipating crisis

OTTAWA – NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus says he is not going to sit back while thousands of television production jobs are put on the line following the decision by Shaw Cable Systems and Videotron Ltd. to walk away on their obligations to the Canadian Television Fund (CTF). Cable and satellite companies are required by the CRTC to contribute 5% of their annual revenue to the fund. Angus says the cable giants are blackmailing the CTF and are getting away with it because Heritage Minister Bev Oda simply refuses to do her job.  

"I'm sick and tired of how companies like Videotron and Shaw are pushing their weight around because Bev Oda is either unwilling or unable to put in a day's work. These companies are pampered and protected from competition by the rules of the CRTC. They need to be held accountable for their side of the bargain."

Angus points out that there was complete silence from Oda following the unilateral decision by Jim Shaw to walk away from the CTF. Its not surprising that Videotron has picked up on the silence from the Minister and pulled their funds as well.

"Bev Oda is sending clear signals to her pals in industry that the CRTC is up for grabs and that Canada's paltry domestic content regulations are up for grabs. But if she can sit back and let the giant cable companies dictate heritage policy in this country Bev Oda's going to have the fight of her life."

Angus has already gone after Oda for her failure to renew the government portion of the CTF. He is challenging her to issue an immediate statement to explain what steps she will take to enforce the obligations of the cable giants to pay into the CTF.

Angus is calling for meetings with officials from CTF as well as the Deputy Minister for Canadian Heritage. He will be calling for an emergency meeting of the Heritage Committee to deal with the issue.

© NDP