After getting a stiff thumbs down from English-language giants CTVglobemedia, CanWest Global Communications and Shaw Communications, Quebec's big players told the regulator Tuesday that the problem of media concentration was all in the commissioners' minds.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission called for public hearings on the issue of "diversity of voices" last March over concerns that Canadian broadcasting was becoming too concentrated following several large consolidations, including CTV's acquisition of CHUM Ltd. and CanWest's proposed takeover of Alliance Atlantis Communications.

But the CRTC is being told that not only is consolidation necessary in today's fast-changing media climate, it may actually be amplifying the diversity of voices available to Canadians.

Quebecor Media Inc. spokesman Luc Lavoie said the commission is seeking to resolve a problem that does not exist, saying there is more diversity in Canada today than ever before.

"Other voices are being created as we speak and they are growing very fast," Lavoie said. "What was YouTube a few years a year ago? Nothing. What was Facebook a year ago? Nothing. What was Google five years ago? Nothing."

"We're such a tiny little player that the problem in Canada is the risk is that we will be swamped from elsewhere. What we have to worry about is, are we equipped as a member of the G-8 to face the swamp, the wave that is coming from those gigantic companies coming from elsewhere?"

Quebecor Media is a partnership between Montreal-based Quebecor Inc. and Quebec's largest sector pension fund, Caisse de depots et placements du Quebec.