Canadian Heritage committee  It would be nice. In all fairness, though, I have to say that the bureaucrats of the department have been very helpful and very supportive. I know they have a lot of other pressures. I don't want to criticize them at all.

Canadian Heritage committee  We've had this contribution agreement since 2000, so it's gone on for six years.

Canadian Heritage committee  October 5.

Canadian Heritage committee  It was my pleasure.

Canadian Heritage committee  As I said, I'm the only person in the office. I've had to let everybody go--“everybody” is one other person. We have four people at deadline dates. We have two people for the rest of the year. We have a small reserve fund because of good management. The money came from managing other funds where we had administrative fees.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's why I don't entirely understand the department. They couldn't extend it any further because they shot their bolt by asking Treasury Board for an extra year. It's why they have to now go back to try to get a multi-year agreement.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. It turned out to be a year and six months or something. As I said, it was for the first part of the year.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I'm very concerned about it. If we want to have Canadian culture and Canadians speaking to each other, rallying around some of the issues we've made reference to, I don't see how they can do it. The broadcaster is really king, queen, whatever, right now, and I don't see how projects are going to get made in this country without the participation of broadcasters.

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't know. I believe the small-market recipients are to report to the CAB, but I've never seen any of the reports. I haven't had the time to follow up, so I can't answer your question. I don't know.

Canadian Heritage committee  If you're talking about...again, I'm not sure. Our administration budget on $1.55 million is $310,000. I don't know if you think that's a lot or not.

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't have an answer for you. Even if I think about it, I'm not sure if I would have one, but I'm willing to think about it. There are many issues there.

Canadian Heritage committee  Of course there is. I guess I sound prejudiced, so it's a conflict of interest for me to say that. It sounds like I'm protecting my own job. I think it's a big issue for the producers in this country. Again it comes back to whether one wants Canadian culture. I'm not talking about culture in just an elitist sense, but the kinds of examples we've been referring to today.

Canadian Heritage committee  I can't answer that. This is the first time we've had a contribution agreement with the government, so I don't know the answer to that. I think they're kind of busy right now. But I don't know whether or not this is a normal timing problem.

Canadian Heritage committee  Are you talking about paperwork for the producers or for us at the fund?