I think the objective of having extra executive scrutiny of the interpretation would be positive on two fronts. I think that scrutiny would in fact add value to the process. It doesn't have anything to do with the authority of the executive council to do this; it's in the legislation. That isn't to say that we as a committee couldn't suggest to the executive council that additional scrutiny would be helpful on content.
Secondly, I think if the executive council were aware that there would be some additional scrutiny in terms of their interpretation of the broadcasting policy, it might change the way they consider it--the political reality--if somewhere between the directive and the CRTC, someone is considering it. And it probably is appropriate that it be this committee.
If the reference here is to the House. The committee is a creature of the House with, presumably, expertise in the area, and it strikes me that it would be a more efficient way to have the House offer scrutiny by depositing it with this committee.
It's not unlike the fact that we look at Governor in Council appointments. We can't jettison, but we do offer scrutiny, and there's some value in that, obviously--they send them to us.
So I think perhaps the objective could be met within the letter and spirit of the law by simply suggesting to the executive council that it is this committee's belief that it would add value to the process to have interpretations of the broadcasting policy and to include us in that process. I think it would change the way they would do it, and I think we would add value to the process.