Canadian Heritage committee  I think it's a good idea. Moreover, Jean‑François Bélisle, the director of the National Gallery of Canada, is francophone. The chair of the Canada Council for the Arts is of course an indigenous writer now, and I think you're absolutely right that the selection should be respectful of the diversity of this country linguistically and culturally.

Canadian Heritage committee  Madam Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, I want to thank you for the invitation to speak to you today regarding my senate bill, Bill S-202, the parliamentary visual artist laureate. I also thank MP John Aldag for sponsoring this bill in the House of Commons and for his articulate summation of the bill, the role of the proposed visual artist laureate and the means for the selection of this two-year position.