Official Languages

The committee was studying the vitality of French-language music radio and the regulatory framework for broadcasting, hearing from Jean-François Leclerc, Vice-President of Leclerc Communication Inc., and from Eve Paré and Simon Claus of ADISQ.

Jean-François Leclerc argued that French-language music radio is in a severe crisis, with listening times among 18-to-54-year-olds in Quebec City and Montreal down nearly 60% over 15 years and the Montreal market unprofitable since 2023. He said the 65% French-language music quota is a global anomaly that drives listeners to unregulated foreign platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, where Quebec music accounts for under 5% of listening. He proposed reducing the quota to 40%, as in France, and recommended imposing content and discoverability obligations on digital platforms, revising section 19 of the Income Tax Act to exclude foreign digital media from tax deductions, and adopting a government advertising policy that favours local media.

Eve Paré and Simon Claus of ADISQ disagreed with Leclerc’s diagnosis, arguing that radio remains a primary source of music discovery for 60% of Quebeckers and that the 65% quota has created a virtuous circle supporting francophone artists. They said there is no evidence linking the quota to audience decline, which they attributed to structural factors like platform competition and audience fragmentation. They called for restoring fairness by fully regulating online platforms under the Broadcasting Act rather than lowering quotas, and proposed codifying the definition of French-language vocal music in the Radio Regulations, 1986. They also noted that montages of English songs are used to circumvent the quota’s intent.

After the witnesses, the committee discussed its work plan. Members agreed to finish the French-language music quota study on December 2 with Cogeco and Alexis Normand, then give instructions for the education continuum report. For December 4, they debated whether ministers should discuss the use of French in government communications or their mandate letters, with a preference to separate the topics. The committee tentatively planned to start studying the newly tabled regulations on December 9, with a reservation from one member, and to hear the Commissioner of Official Languages on December 17 for both the use of French and the regulations.