Finally, CTF funding was intended to provide leverage to increase private sector spending on Canadian programming. In fact, private broadcasters are now spending more on non-Canadian programming and less on Canadian. For example, in 2005 alone, private broadcasters saw CTF funding increases of $20 million, while their own spending on Canadian programming decreased by $21 million. CTF funding has been used by broadcasters to replace, not expand, their own required funding for Canadian programming. Cable and satellite subscribers are being taxed to support the broadcasters, while they use their own money to purchase more non-Canadian programming.
Let me also speak to CTF accountability. The CTF was created as a public-private partnership, but the CTF is not our partner and it has never been accountable. If we were an equal partner in the process, we would participate in the decisions about how our subscribers' money is spent.
Finally, we would like to see some fairness introduced into the system. We have said repeatedly that we want a funding mechanism that is independent, accountable to those who provide the funding, and responsible for achieving measurable results.
Shaw has met its part of the bargain. We have built a successful enterprise serving millions of cable and satellite subscribers. Shaw's capital expenditures have built a world-class system with a capacity to distribute the greatest number and variety of Canadian and non-Canadian services; increase the penetration and profitability of all Canadian broadcasting and programming services; build a digital capacity to launch numerous and profitable Canadian digital specialty services; provide delivery of high-definition content; and offer unprecedented choice in service to customers no matter where they live throughout Canada, whether in urban, rural, or remote communities. We have 3.1 million customers, and in a short time we have grown from 1,000 employees to 9,000 employees. We have North America's highest Internet penetration and we have launched competition in digital telephony.