I want you to understand the point I am trying to make. We are two peoples that have to get along, and these comments are inappropriate and don't help keep us united. It's unfortunate we had to wait for someone to retire to no longer have to hear their comments against francophones. We saw what just happened in the United States sports world. The league did not wait for that 80-year-old man to retire before doing something about his behaviour. That's all I will say about this, since we have other fish to fry.
As this is the Standing Committee on Official Languages, I want to discuss programming cuts again. I am looking at the table you submitted to us. Cuts in regions with official language minority communities are hurting us. Nothing further needs to be said about this, as you know what is happening and understand it. A Radio-Canada group, which includes Céline Galipeau, even sent a letter that states something along these lines:
Over the years, we have perfected and reinvented our methods in order to become more efficient. However, we are reaching a breaking point. These cuts will definitely affect our programming and our news bulletins.
It's clear. People can see it, and they know how much the cuts are hurting.
Let's look at the table you distributed and see what groups are affected. In Saint John, New Brunswick, one francophone is affected, but no anglophones. In Moncton, seven francophones are affected, but no anglophones. In Victoria, one francophone is affected, but no anglophones.
Let's now consider the overall cuts. On the anglophone side, at CBC, 334 positions are being eliminated. On the francophone side, at Radio-Canada, 323 positions are being cut. Among the 33 million to 35 million Canadians, there are probably 8 million francophones, but the number of francophone and anglophone positions cut are the same.
I want to make sure that you understand my point. I didn't want there to be any cuts at Radio-Canada. My anger, my defence of Radio-Canada and my opposition to the cuts are due to the fact that this is my favourite television station. That's what I watch. That's what we in Acadia care so much about. Without Radio-Canada, we would have had precious little. This means that I really care about it very much.
However, I see an imbalance in these cuts. Doing away with seven francophone positions in Moncton will hurt the programming. I could spend all my floor time stressing how much that imbalance in the cuts made by the crown corporation is hurting us.
Céline Galipeau, a very respectable individual, and 17 others who signed the letter said that they are reaching a breaking point. Are they wrong? Are they not telling the truth? Is that not what the future holds? Your duty is to defend the crown corporation. You are trying to do two things at the same time. On the one hand, you are in charge of a crown corporation. On the other hand, you are complaining about the government cutting part of your funding, which comes out to $29 per person, while that amount is higher in other countries. That really hurts. The situation is bad, not only for Radio-Canada, but also for Canada's public broadcaster as a whole. Where is all this headed?