Mélanie Joly criticized for saying she prefers Radio-Canada to TVA

Federal Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is in the hot seat for saying she prefers Radio-Canada to its private rival, TVA.

Joly, who is responsible for overseeing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the country's broadcast regulator, as well as CBC/Radio-Canada, made her choice clear in an online video produced by the French newsmagazine L'actualité.

The segment gives political figures 60 seconds to answer a number of questions.

After being asked questions including, "what historical figure do you identify with?" and "do you like beer or wine?," Joly was asked whether she favours Radio-Canada or TVA.​

"Well, that's easy," she replied. "Radio-Canada."

Commentators for TVA, which is owned by Quebecor, were quick to criticize her statement, saying she should remain neutral since she's responsible for the CRTC.

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One commentator, former Liberal cabinet minister Jean Lapierre, went as far as to say Joly should resign.

Joly, who once interned at Radio-Canada, has said the Liberals will keep their campaign promise to re-invest $150 million in the Crown corporation.

Joly defended her comments on Friday in an appearance on LCN, TVA's 24-hour news network, saying she supports all Canadian media.

She said she answered in favour of Radio-Canada because it's at the top of her mind as she's working on fulfilling her government's electoral commitment.