TV makers across Canada are cautiously optimistic about the CRTC’s plans to look at how television is financed in this country, following Tuesday’s announcement that it is setting up a task force headed by broadcasting vice-chair Michel Arpin to address complaints raised during the recent crisis at the Canadian Television Fund.

‘A review may be helpful, but we’re concerned about the future of the CTF. We want to ensure that there continues to be a funding body,’ says Monique Lafontaine, general counsel and director of regulatory affairs for the Directors Guild of Canada, which represents 3,800 creative and technical film and TV professionals. Although no meetings have been scheduled, the DGC will ‘definitely be participating’ in the task force’s fact-finding process, which is to take place from Feb. 19 to April 27, says Lafontaine.

Montreal producer Vincent Leduc of Zone 3 (Minuit, le soir) is confident that the CRTC recognizes how important the CTF is to the industry. ‘I’m not afraid. Things can always improve, but I think the fund is more pertinent than ever — especially when you look at how much TV has been made with it in the last 10 years,’ he tells Playback Daily. ‘It makes no sense to throw the baby out with the bathwater.’

‘At least things are moving. The people concerned must be consulted,’ says APFTQ spokewoman Céline Pelletier, noting that the task force may conduct public consultation after it tables its report Aug. 21. ‘Everyone contributes to the fund, so this process should be transparent.’