Canadian Heritage committee  I think there's the fact of the four artists whose names have been put on the table here today and who were part of the hearings. I read the transcripts and thought, “Boy, is there ever some confusion around where the money's coming from”. For example, Zubot and Dawson, we were t

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. All of what the department has done is going to support the industry. I'm not in a position to comment on how you come up with your funding and how you make those decisions, but I have empathy for anybody who has to do it, because, as an administrator, I don't feel

Canadian Heritage committee  No, absolutely not. That question was not asked. I don't believe from my own interview that it was even a consideration. What they are doing is looking at and gathering what all the needs are and then trying to do the best they can with a limited amount of funding available. The

Canadian Heritage committee  That conversation has not taken place, and I can tell you that historically, the board of directors at FACTOR—and I can only speak for them—has had confidence in the processes that have determined what new programs are going to be put in place, which ones are going to be continue

Canadian Heritage committee  There appears to be a lot of confusion, and part of the reason I'm here is to be on the record about what's really going on. Four artists have appeared before this committee, and they have been receiving substantial funding from FACTOR. Some of what they've put on the record....

Canadian Heritage committee  No, but they've also gone on record as saying the funding from the Canada Council is what launched their career. FACTOR was there funding those same projects, so there is an inaccuracy in the statements. I understand artists--

Canadian Heritage committee  We're already supporting them, so I can't say who I can and cannot support in the future. What I can say, what I say on many panels and seminars, is that if you never apply for the funding, you'll never get it.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's correct. At FACTOR, we've enjoyed a longstanding working relationship with the department. Our experience over time has been that there have been cuts to programs in the past and changes of administrators on funds. We're non-political, non-aligned. We don't get involved in

Canadian Heritage committee  —is in keeping—

Canadian Heritage committee  My name is Heather Ostertag. I am the president and CEO of the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings, commonly referred to as FACTOR. FACTOR is a private not-for-profit organization that manages funds on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage as well as contr