The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCL) received several complaints after staff and programming cuts at CBC/Radio-Canada were announced last December. Commissioner Raymond Théberge decided to investigate the matter.
The public broadcaster said it expected to cut 600 jobs across the company and cut around 200 vacancies across the country over the next 12 months due to budget pressures. Radio-Canada and CBC will each have to cut around 250 jobs, the state-owned company said in a press release.
This announcement resulted in four complaints to the Office of the Commissioner for Official Languages.
One of them claims that by wanting to restrict French and English services equally, CBC/Radio-Canada disproportionately disadvantages Francophones, and particularly Francophones in minority situations who often have very little or no access to other media in French for information.
Last week, the CLO confirmed that these complaints are admissible. However, Commissioner Raymond Théberge refused to talk about it in an interview due to ongoing investigations.
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The Commissioner for Official Languages, Raymond Théberge (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Angie Bonenfant
However, in a written statement, Mr. Théberge urged CBC/Radio-Canada executives to consider their role within official language communities when making decisions.
It is also a rare platform where the general public can receive information and have access to cultural content from across the Canadian Francophonie, he points out.
At the local community level, I think it is important that we have our place and can find ourselves.
An analysis by the President of the Assembly of Francophonie Ontario (AFO), Fabien Hébert.
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The President of the Assembly of the Francophonie of Ontario, Fabien Hébert (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Chris St-Pierre
I believe it is the most important source of information in French for the Franco-Ontarian community. So the loss of this resource means that the French-speaking community in Ontario will be completely abandoned. […] A perfect example: Northerners are connected to Radio-Canada Sudbury. You can watch regional news. This allows us to see what is happening in our communities.
Legal obligations, remembers a lawyer
For lawyer Mark Power, who has defended and is defending numerous linguistic causes, there is no doubt that the CBC/Radio-Canada cannot act as it wants because it is subject to the Official Languages Act.
Without knowing the facts […] However, I would venture to point out that cuts in the number of jobs, which would automatically apply to both French-speakers and English-speakers, seem to me, at first glance, to be completely unlawful.
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Ottawa lawyer Mark Power
Photo: Radio-Canada / Maxim Saavedra-Ducharme
He recalled that the Official Languages Law contains numerous provisions to promote the vitality and development of the official language minority communities.
Federal institutions, including state-owned enterprises, must also consider ways to avoid or at least mitigate the direct negative impacts that their structuring decisions could have on these communities. In addition, since its modernization in June, the law recognizes the special situation of the French, emphasizes Mr. Power.
Since June 2023, it is necessary to take into account the specific situation of French as a minority language in North America, in Canada and especially – but not only – outside Quebec.
CBC/Radio-Canada has indicated it is not granting interviews at this time in response to the bureau's investigation.
“We have been contacted by the Commissioner and are ready to support him in his work,” she clarified in writing, adding that she was complying with the Official Languages Act.
“We are particularly aware of the importance of Radio-Canada and CBC in official language minority communities across the country,” the Crown corporation assured. It is still too early to talk about cuts in various sectors. Our goal is to minimize the impact on the services we provide to the Canadian population and position ourselves well for the future.
FCFA met with the CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada
While she doesn't want to sound the alarm too quickly, Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities (FCFA) Canada President Liane Roy is concerned about December's announcement.
For this reason, FCFA has requested a meeting with CBC/Radio-Canada President and CEO Catherine Tait.
We wanted to ensure that at the regional level all of these services remained intact.
At the end of this meeting last Thursday, Ms Roy said it was a good meeting.
We don't know exactly what cuts will occur, but it is important to remember that our state radio and television has requirements related to the new Official Languages Law [doivent] meet these requirements.
The President of the FCFA recalls in particular that, by law, the CBC/Radio-Canada company must consult the official language communities if the proposed plans could have a negative impact on them.
Take into account a certain reality, demands the government
Although her organization has not filed a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner for Official Languages, Ms. Roy believes the approach is interesting. She's also counting on the Liberal government to ensure that CBC/Radio-Canada meets its obligations.
The government must do its job to ensure that this law is respected, explained the president of the organization that represents Francophones in the minority context.
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The President of the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities of Canada (FCFA), Liane Roy
Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon Lasalle
Official Languages Minister Randy Boissonnault's office said in a written response received Monday afternoon that the government would let the Official Languages Commissioner do his job and investigate the complaints received.
It is important to remember that the Commissioner is an independent representative of Parliament. Furthermore, we expect this [Radio-Canada/CBC] Continues to fulfill its mission of providing high-quality information in French in Quebec and the rest of Canada, it said.
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Randy, Boissonnault, Minister for Official Languages (archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Nick Iwanyshyn
For its part, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge's team highlighted the Crown Corporation's crucial role for rural and remote communities, as well as for official language minority communities.
She is expected to actively consider her reality when making decisions.
However, Mr. Power points out that it is the government's responsibility to ensure that federal institutions respect the law. He also adds that the state-owned company could be threatened in case of non-compliance with its obligations.
The new Official Languages Act requires the intervention of the Federal Court and independent judges, and I would like to assume that the justice system will be there if – and if – Radio-Canada/CBC management does not do their homework.
On Monday, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet responded to the situation. He claims to have “immediately denounced that the cuts planned at Radio-Canada, both financially and in personnel, would initially weaken the regions and France.”
Ms. Tait will be heard by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Tuesday to answer questions about cuts to CBC/Radio-Canada.
With information from Rebecca Kwan