Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I think it's a good motion. If you all recall the history of the Canadian television fund, it's a very.... I know the minister is not able to tell the CRTC what to do, but I do recall that the reason the fund was put there in the first place was that when cable television companies required an increase in their fees because they needed to build digital infrastructure, they got an agreement that they would be able to do that. When they finished paying for the infrastructure, there was still the money and the increased fees, and they wished to keep it. It was in return for not returning those fees to the people who were paying them that it was suggested at the time by our government that they turn it into a cable and television fund.
As you know, the Government of Canada contributes $100 million per year out of government funds into the cable and television fund. I think this money was put in for a specific reason when the CRTC agreed to it. It was set up so that Canadian productions, Canadian programming, could be fostered. Some of that money, as you well know, went to CTV and other private broadcasters for Canadian productions. We know that as recently as about a year ago, Shaw and Vidéotron decided they didn't like the rules anymore and they wanted to be able to say how the fund was distributed. As a result, the CRTC started to look at this, and we have the result of the CRTC, which I don't particularly agree with, but at the same time I realize we cannot tell the CRTC what to do.
I believe, however, that before the minister makes any decision about what she's going to say and do, it is really important.... We have spent a long time looking at the CBC and its ability to function. Today we put forward a report that recognizes that the CBC is making programming decisions that we may not approve of or like because it is under such a narrow constriction with the money it has. We've just suggested it get more money; we've made all those decisions. I think it's important to ensure that no matter what happens, the CBC maintains its existing envelope, which is the 37%. I think that would signal to the minister, as she is making her response, that we want to make sure the CBC does not lose out--not a penny, not 1% of this--so that it can continue to do the things it needs to do.
I think this is good. I think it's timely. I will be supporting it because I think it's an important statement to make at this point in time.