First of all, the Canadian Television Fund or CTF has evolved since its creation and it has mechanisms by which it can continue to evolve. It is true, it is stating the obvious, that the new technological platforms are changing the rules of the game. This is recognized around the world. These new platforms have a significant impact as far as law and financing are concerned.
However, the solution must be found by all of the industry stakeholders because it is not so simple. Weakening the television system on the pretext that new platforms will arise is somewhat risky and shortsighted. There are certainly other ways to proceed, and the problem must be considered in its entirety. The CTF certainly has the tools to adapt that will allow us to confront these changes. Whatever solution is found, if we respect the spirit of the Broadcasting Act, that solution will be found by all the industry stakeholders. We cannot go off separately and try to impose our own custom-made solution.
The fund remains the best forum in which all of the stakeholders who are part of the creation of the television cultural industry advocate their interests. In that regard, it is extremely important that it remain, because those negotiations allow not only for the growth of a very strong independent production industry that guarantees diversity of creation, but it also ensures the diversity of genres. It ensures that there will be documentaries, youth programs, etc., as the president was saying earlier. The fund allows television to not be completely abandoned to the simple laws of supply and demand. It ensures true diversity in Canadian production, which in my opinion is consistent with both the spirit and the letter of the Broadcasting Act.
I will conclude by emphasizing that all of the new platforms and the new opportunities—and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is a player in almost all of those platforms—constitute a real issue. The letter and the spirit of the current Broadcasting Act allows us to find solutions while maintaining a strong independent production sector, a strong public service and strong private broadcasters. We will therefore find a solution with all of the stakeholders, because the fund has the tools to do so.