Stay tuned

This should be an interesting week if you're someone who is interested in or invested with the way television programs are brought to Canadian screens. This week the CRTC will release its recommendations for changes to the Canadian Television Fund, the primary source of cash for domestic television production. While the public review of the CTF was going on, there were concerns that there would be a considerable change, one that splits the fund into "cultural" and "commercial" lines of support.

However, I would be surprised if something that radical were to actually take place. The CRTC is likely to work more creatively in order to avoid the thorny issues around definition such a split would produce. The CTF is already oriented to encourage the production of certain genres of programming, like drama, over others, like the news, and considering the importance of the CTF to the production industry they are unlikely to suggest a major overhaul. Where things have gotten sticky lately has been over reality-style programming and over the lack of oversight on the content of CTF-supported productions from the those who contribute to it -- Canada's cable companies. It seems like what we're likely to see are recommendations that seek to provide further definition to the kinds of programs supported by the CTF and, at the same time, give the cable industry a little more of a say over how and where the money is spent, whether in terms of increased presence on the CTF board or some other form of oversight.

Then again, I've been wrong before.

One more thing to keep in mind: the CRTC will be looking into the question of how to regulate the Internet, which really means how to set up a system to ensure that those already under their regulatory authority, broadcasters and telcos, continue their commitment to Canadian programming online. So I'll be looking to see how the report on the CTF foregrounds the new media issue in this report.

The CRTC's recommendations on the CTF could well be a moot point, since it is ultimately the Heritage Minister, Josée Verner, who will have the final say on what the CTF should do next. One of the most likely outcomes will be that she will do very little, largely because of other matters facing the Conservative party. The ignominious departure of Maxime Bernier from his cabinet post, the need for continued representation from Quebec in key positions, and the tendency for cabinet shuffles during the summer may well mean that Verner will be on the move. This means that the new Minister might have to pick up the pieces, which will likely include dealing with the future of the CTF, the CRTC's proceedings on new media, Internet throttling, and the issue of tax credits for those risqué movies which are contrary to public policy. In that scenario, it may well be that the choice for next Minister of Canadian Heritage might indicate whether or not the government actually has the, well you know what, to actually go through with restructuring Canada's cultural policy infrastructure.