The thriving Quebec TV industry will collapse unless Ottawa makes up the shortfall in the Canadian Television Fund, the Quebec producers association told the parliamentary Heritage committee on Thursday.

The APFTQ wants the federal government to lend CTF the money being withheld by cable companies Videotron and Shaw Communications — which totals $6 million per month — to ensure the survival of the province’s industry.

‘I believe our message got through,’ says APFTQ chair Vincent Leduc, on the phone from Ottawa shortly after appearing in front of the committee, which is examining the CTF in light of the recent departure of the dissenting cablers.

The federal government currently pays $100 million per year into CTF, covering roughly 40% of its budget, and recently renewed its commitment for the next two years. The fund itself recently announced plans to help keep afloat productions in its pipeline for this fiscal year by borrowing from its 2007/08 revenue.

The APFTQ fears that if Shaw and Videotron’s actions go unchecked, other cable providers might follow suit. ‘If CTF collapses, it would change the face of Quebec TV. Ultimately it could mean there are 60% less made-in-Quebec shows,’ says Leduc, a producer with Montreal-based Zone 3 (Minuit le soir, Histoire de filles).

Also present at the two-hour meeting were CTF chair Doug Barrett and CFTPA president Guy Mayson, among others.

The committee plans five days of hearings, and has invited representatives from the CBC, the Directors Guild of Canada, cable and satellite companies, the CRTC and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Late last month, Quebecor-owned Videotron stopped contributing to CTF, following a similar move by Calgary-based Shaw Communications. Both Videotron and Shaw are protesting the way the fund is managed. CRTC rules require all cable companies to hand 5% of their broadcast revenues to the fund.