CRTC chairman summoned to explain inconsistent testimony

The chairman of the CRTC is being summoned back to Parliament to explain inconsistencies in his testimony last month before the Canadian heritage committee. 

Both Liberals and Conservatives on the committee say they are concerned that Konrad von Finckenstein may have either misspoken, or worse, misled the committee when answering questions about so-called "fees for carriage" on March 25.

At the time, von Finckenstein said the CRTC wasn't allowing broadcasters to charge cable companies a fee for carrying their signal because the broadcasters weren't going to direct the money they received to local programming.

In fact, documents show broadcasters had clearly told the CRTC that money would be used for local programs.

"The committee agreed to call the CRTC back to clarify the comments made by Konrad von Finckenstein at his last appearance," Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge confirmed Wednesday.

"He needs to be recalled, so the committee can learn the facts," said Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla. MPs say von Finckenstein is scheduled to reappear before the committee on May 25.

'We thought we were very clear'

Von Finckenstein had been called before the heritage committee on March 25 to answer questions on the state of the broadcasting industry and in particular, local news. 

During that appearance, the broadcast regulator was lectured by MPs, some of whom challenged the CRTC's decision to prevent broadcasters from charging the "fee for carriage." Broadcasters say the fee would give them some relief from the financial pressures they face. 

Von Finckenstein defended the decision, explaining that the CRTC ruled against the fee because during public hearings in 2006 because broadcasters had declined to direct the money into local programming.

Members of the heritage committee have since availed themselves of transcripts of those public hearings and they say the transcripts clearly show the opposite, that the broadcasters were committed to directing the money into local programming. 

Ivan Fecan, chief executive of CTVglobemedia, appeared before the heritage committee on Wednesday, saying he was surprised by von Finckenstein's March 25 testimony. 

"We thought we were very clear," he said. "The fee would be tied to local reflection." 

It's not clear how von Finckenstein will address the concerns about his testimony. The CRTC did not respond to a CBC News request for comment.