Canadian Heritage committee  Are you talking about the content, or the distribution platforms? I'm not sure they're necessarily the same.

Canadian Heritage committee  I just wonder, going back to this example of The Week The Women Went, whether that's something the CBC should be spending its money and time on, whether that shouldn't be done by the private sector, by the private broadcasters. I take your point about everybody paying into the CBC, and maybe it's a question of trying to seek a better balance of things that are geared towards national identity, trying to keep the discourse at a certain level.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's for the common good.

Canadian Heritage committee  As I explained, there is a policy regarding news. The feeling is that CIDA-funded documentaries lack balance, and that poses a problem.

Canadian Heritage committee  Pardon me?

Canadian Heritage committee  I did not hear the question. I'm sorry.

Canadian Heritage committee  A balanced perspective is lacking. The news trend must have a balance, be objective.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, I do not think that is the case. It's not distorted, it's just journalistic norms, I think.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, in my opinion, it's only the CBC. Other broadcasters haven't backed down.

Canadian Heritage committee  It is negative for the producers because they cannot make any money. It is an issue of having another means of broadcasting...

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  It seems to me you people have quite a tough mandate. Not only are you having to deal with these issues you've raised about the CBC, but the whole broadcast versus new media question is dogging us all because we don't know the answers. I sympathize with your mandate. It's pretty tough.

Canadian Heritage committee  I really think the CBC has a mandate—that is our hope—to give us the material that helps show us who we are as Canadians. It allows that discourse. Again, I talk about CBC radio. I think it really does those kinds of things. It's a model in that respect. Otherwise, what's the point of doing this?

Canadian Heritage committee  No, it's been reduced.

Canadian Heritage committee  In 2002 or 2003.