Yes, we've had the conversation through committee several times.
First of all, I don't agree with this perception the opposition parties want to portray that somehow there has been a reduction in the amounts paid by broadcasters. Clearly, and it hasn't been contested by the opposition parties, they're paying a lot more money. Even if you were to take the $21 million out, they're paying a lot more money than they were paying 10 years ago. It's very clear. I see Mr. Nantel shaking his head, but you just have to look at the numbers. It's very clear that this is the case.
So I disagree wholeheartedly with the notion that the broadcasters are paying less. In fact, the amount they pay for the performance rights alone is—I can't remember the numbers exactly; I don't have them in front of me—60-some per cent higher than it was 10 years ago. What we heard is that their revenues haven't gone up that much. Certainly, the inflation rate over those years hasn't been up as much either.
The idea the NDP raised that broadcasters don't pay for the music is quite frankly a ridiculous argument. It's not the broadcasters who decide whether they pay for the music; it's the labels themselves. For their own business purposes, they decide to give free copies. The broadcasters still have to pay to play. Maybe you could clarify that. Do broadcasters actually pay to...?
Maybe you want to use some of Mr. Regan's time to answer that question.