Ottawa: The talk around this town got even more political than usual when the Canadian Association of Broadcasters opened its three-day conference in late November – bringing some 600 radio and TV execs together with their small army of lobbyists, just a few blocks from the House of Commons, its minority government and the much-maligned CRTC.

The first full day of the annual huddle was taken up by talk of all things political and politicized – from Liza Frulla’s opening pledge to prop up the Canadian Television Fund, to the latest federal proclamation on English-language drama.

Frulla, the minister of Canadian heritage, warmed up the crowd at the opening ceremonies on Nov. 29 by pledging to maintain cash flow to the CTF and nodding to the newly resurfaced Lincoln report and its 97 recommendations for overhauling Canuck airwaves.

‘The fund has shown that in attracting audiences, popularity and quality are not mutually exclusive. Today, I am making a commitment to work to maintaining that funding as it is, if not more,’ she said to a round of applause.

Frulla did not offer specifics, but also spoke of the need for more third-language television, a more ‘flexible’ CRTC, and for copyright reform.

She commended the private casters for turning out popular Canadian shows – Train 48, Corner Gas and The Collector, among others – but also sounded a note of support for public TV.

‘[Canadians] believe in private television that continues to be a commercial success and that reflects Canada’s people,’ she said. ‘We also believe in public television… that refuses to imitate the private sector or compete with it.’

Frulla is under pressure for her party to act on the Lincoln report, which gathered dust under Jean Chretien. She doesn’t think the restrictions of a minority government will be a problem. ‘It’s harder with the Conservatives because they’re more money-driven than culturally driven,’ she told Playback later. ‘It means more negotiations. But the Bloc and the NDP are on board.’

CAB boss Glenn O’Farrell made a similar point in his opening remarks – talking up the achievements of the minority governments of King, Diefenbaker, Pearson and Trudeau.

‘History clearly tells us, the times of minority governments have not been idle,’ he said. ‘We… see great opportunity to write new chapters of lasting Canadian legacies.’

In a panel-talk later that day, Opposition House Leader John Reynolds predicted that the government would not last long past its 2006 budget. He was one of many complaining about the CRTC, suggesting that the federal broadcast regulator, under fire this past year for blocking the entry of Italy’s RAI to Canada and for other controversial rulings, should let Canadians ‘watch whatever they want.’

‘They’ll watch it anyway,’ through illicit satellite services or other means, he added, ‘so let’s benefit from it.’

Tory leader Stephen Harper also took aim at the commission, calling it ‘outdated’ and ‘protectionist,’ while pushing for a review of the Broadcasting Act to bring it in line with new technologies.

‘It makes no sense to me that government policies would inhibit or reduce the utilization of new technologies in the provision of broadcasting services,’ he told a lunchtime crowd. ‘This will only encourage Canadians to bypass the Canadian system by accessing foreign services available through less easily regulated new technologies such as satellites and the Internet.’

Those sentiments were echoed Tuesday by several panelists, including CTV president Rick Brace, in a session titled Keeping Conventional Television on Track, moderated by Trina McQueen.

CRTC chairman Charles Dalfen spoke up later that afternoon when he unveiled new federal incentives for English-language drama, the culmination of two years of consultations and studies, including three reports on the status of Canadian and international drama published in May 2003, including one authored by McQueen.

The new system will allow broadcasters to run up to eight minutes of extra advertising per hour in exchange for each hour of original Canuck drama aired. The exact amount depends on the show’s budget, timeslot and other factors.

Under the new plan, casters can also earn ad time bonuses by increasing audience share or by upping their spending. Much of the details presented in the plan were already made public in a call for comments in the spring.

The plan drew an immediate rebuke from ACTRA, which has long lobbied for the reinstatement of spending requirements that were axed in 1999.

‘It is an incentive and it is trying to encourage [broadcasters], but I think recent history has told us that when you leave it up to the broadcaster they don’t necessarily put their money where their mouth is,’ said actor Sonja Smits.

ACTRA and other groups had originally planned to protest outside the CAB conference. The rally was called off because of complications surrounding the visit to Ottawa by U.S. President George W. Bush.

Dalfen defended the plan, arguing that strict requirements ‘will only get us so far,’ going on to quote from McQueen’s 2003 report on drama, noting that the genre ‘deserves better than to be a forced and resented obligation. It needs the commitment and willing partnership of broadcasters.’

-www.cab-acr.ca