OTTAWA — Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner said the federal government would seriously consider the concerns of cultural groups over ensuring that Canadian content remains healthy as regulatory policies are streamlined in the multimedia era.

In her first address to the industry at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters conference on Tuesday, she said, ‘The government expects the CRTC to continue to act in a manner that ensures the creation and presentation of Canadian programming — the foundation of a strong broadcasting system and a strong production sector.’

‘But,’ she added, ‘you should not conclude that I am defending unnecessary complexity or less-than-adequate transparency in regulation.’

She indicated the Conservative government was in favor of deregulation and the greater play of market forces in the regulation of the broadcasting industry.

‘We must make sure that the right conditions are in place to spur innovation and ensure a space for creativity and ingenuity,’ Verner said.

She also referred to the opportunities created by digital technologies, which ‘fuel the demand for better broadband networks and new gadgets and devices.’

It ‘attracts audiences and revenues, triggering dynamic developments in existing industries, creating new markets, and improving skills,’ she noted.

Verner also thanked the CRTC for its work on examining the Canadian Television Fund. The commission announced at the conference that it will hold a public hearing on the fund in February.

‘The government takes the need for change at the CTF seriously,’ she said, before pointing out that policy-makers and the broadcasting industry are being challenged to consider how to achieve the best balance of benefits and obligations among all players.