Montreal: The new CTF Licence Fee Program office in Montreal had its official opening April 24 at an afternoon industry reception hosted by Louise Baillargeon, the LFP’s vice-president.

Baillargeon says the Montreal office, located at 407, rue McGill in the Old Montreal district, is essentially ‘an annex’ to the LFP office in Toronto, connected by direct-dial phone lines. Staff includes assistant Maite Martinez and two business analysts, Stephane Gabriele and Michel Saint-Pierre. A third analyst will be hired shortly.

It seems clear there was a pressing need for LFP representation in Montreal. In operation since February, the Montreal office received 223 French- and English-language funding applications, representing a remarkable 47% of all LFP applications.

‘It is a matter of engaging in better discussions with the industry’s many contributors, broadcasters and producers [in Quebec],’ says Baillargeon.

Because of the concentration of applications out of Montreal, Baillargeon says there is a need to be in proximity to those applications ‘and reflect the reality of the French-language [TV] market, which is completely different.’

Baillargeon’s nomination to the LFP VP post in Montreal has been very well received by the industry. She was intimately involved with the CTF’s launch in 1996 as president and director-general of the APFTQ, Quebec’s producers association.

This year’s LFP-supported productions in drama, children’s and variety were announced late last month. Decisions for the documentary genre are expected shortly.

LFP administers an annual budget of close to $130 million, made up of $50 million from the Department of Canadian Heritage and approximately $80 million from Canadian cable and DTH companies. *

-www.FondsCanadiendeTele.ca

-www.CanadianTelevisionFund.ca