Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the President of CBC/Radio-Canada.
I would like to follow-up on the drop in revenue at Radio-Canada that you spoke about. Your document contains an excellent explanation on page 11. It clearly shows that CBC/Radio-Canada's government appropriation has declined by almost $400 million since 1990. This is well-crafted document. It clearly shows that you have incurred substantial losses, which have led you to lay off 800 employees. That is considerable.
A number of messages have been sent to the Conservative government. In February 2008, this committee, whose makeup was somewhat different at the time, tabled a report in the House. Both the committee's consensus and your demands were clear: everyone was asking the Conservative government for stable, seven-year funding, with conditions and a memorandum of understanding, allowing you to know where you are headed year after year, without having to wait until the last minute.
It was also recommended that funding be increased to $40 per capita. According to my calculations, given the current population, that works out to approximately $1.3 billion.
You also asked that the $60 million amount be made permanent funding, instead of always having to beg for it as you will be doing in a few days before Treasury Board. Even though the minister has given his word, it appears to me that you have not received an official response concerning the additional and odd amount of $60 million.
Indeed, the committee lay down three major conditions, including the $1.374 billion, or $41.83 per capita. The message was clear, just as it was when you asked the board of trade for a line of credit.
You wrote to the Prime Minister, at the end of February, asking to meet with him. However, his office has yet to acknowledge your letter. Is that correct?
In 1995, the then CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada resigned because he did not obtain the funding he was looking for and believed was necessary. The Conservative government hired you about two years ago. What kind of a discussion did you have? Did you discuss the funding that you would require to manage Radio-Canada?