Hon. Gerard Pelletier (Minister of Communications):

Mr. Speaker, to the first part of the question I must unfortunately reply that I am not yet in a position to give a definite answer, due to the complex operation which consists in passing on powers from an already existing organization to the one we have just set up. As for the second part of the hon. member's question, I am also not in a position to provide him with an answer for the time being, but, in my opinion, he will be able to draw his own conclusions on the situation from the negotiations scheduled to take place next Tuesday with all the provincial ministers meeting in Ottawa.

Hon. Gerard Pelletier (Minister of Communications):

Mr. Speaker, it is not directly to the government that Bell Canada has to present its arguments on that matter, but to the Canadian Transport Commission's Telecommunications Committee. I think that is what the company will be asked to do by the committee. The government will then weigh the decisions the commission will have to make.

Hon. Gerard Pelletier (Minister of Communications):

The Canadian Radio-Television Commission submits the following information: In an average week, viewing of television by Canadians can be broken down as follows:

English French Totalper cent per cent per centCBC owned and operated stations Private stations affiliated 12.3 7.4 19.7with CBC 12.5 6.2 18.7 38.4CTV stations 24.0 - 24.0Independent stations 5.5 11.1 16.6 40.6

July 9, 1975

Order Paper Questions

English French Totalper cent per cent per centPercent of Total Hours Tuned in Average Week to United-States Television Stations 21.0Total 100.0

Hon. Gerard Pelletier (Minister of Communications):

Mr. Speaker, I think it would be making too much of this to see in it a form of censorship. As to the particulars of the order rendered by the CRTC, I should like to have time to get more detailed information to be able to advise the hon. member.

Oral Questions

Hon. Gerard Pelletier (Minister of Communications):

In certain major urban areas if current methods of radio frequency management continue, the possibility of a shortage of spectrum space for land mobile services in certain parts of the spectrum by 1980 does exist. However, my Department is developing an improved Spectrum Management System which will alleviate this condition and in addition technology exists which will permit the use of frequencies in other portions of the spectrum for land mobile services.