27 April Subject: Support for recommendations made in the brief by the Consortium of Official Language Minority Community Media submitted to the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications as part of the study of Bill C-18 The Association des radios communautaires du Quebec (ARCQ) represents French-language, 2 English-language and bilingual licence holders before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Our members across Quebec produce close to 400 hours of original programming daily and publish over 2,000 articles a month that are accessible to all, especially Canadians with an interest in local news about their municipalities and communities. Like the media represented by the Consortium, our members include local media and independent organizations that contribute to the vitality of the Canadian digital news market.

This is the backdrop to ARCQ’s support for the key recommendations in the brief submitted by the Consortium of Official Language Minority Community Media, particularly its proposal on amendments to potential bargaining processes and the quality control of the journalistic methods and principles contained in the codes of ethics of news businesses. News outlets are a pillar in defending democracy and public interest, and the Consortium’s brief applies these principles directly to ensure access to quality local news for Canadians in the future.

ARCQ would particularly like to highlight the recommendation to “Ensure that news outlets subject to the bargaining process set out in Bill C-18 produce primarily original content on a regular and continuous basis (clause 31(2), Bill C-18).” If implemented, this recommendation will have positive impacts for members of our association in Quebec and will guarantee access to quality news for thousands of listeners that consume news through our members’ radio stations daily.

While still on the Consortium’s brief, ARCQ also shares the unwavering commitment of associations that signed the brief to the quality principles in news production, namely to “Ensure quality control of the methods and principles contained in the codes of ethics of news business and ensure compliance with them (clause 27, Bill C-18).” This recommendation, which focuses on media independence and equity and fairness in reporting, will not only allow Canadians to rely on quality news, but also have a positive impact on our members’ priorities in their day-to-day management.

The members of ARCQ, which is managed by and for our community members, rely on over volunteer administrators, who will be able to embrace this essential aspect. In particular, we believe that, as suggested in the Consortium’s brief, it is important to amend Bill C-18 to include obligations related to journalistic rigour and professionalism, two principles that are essential to protecting Canadians from disinformation. The local radio stations and newspapers represented by community media associations are the community media for associations, local governments and members of their communities.

It is therefore important, and indeed essential, that they are properly equipped to disseminate quality local content to ensure Canadians are knowledgeable about a variety of local issues and realities so they can take informed action and decisions. [signed] François Carrier Chair, Board of Directors