Thank you very much.
I'm going to go to questions quickly because time is short. I find it hard to believe, Ms. LaRocque—perhaps because I don't understand how the public service works—that you conducted a strategic review of a number of programs, a dozen or so, seven of which were cancelled on August 8, that you conducted no evaluation that is still available, which you could submit to us, that would date from 2007 or 2008. You conducted no evaluation that can be presented. You did cost evaluations, but there again you can give us nothing.
You examined the economic situation, priorities. Did all that meet the objectives? And you conducted all those evaluations either orally with the minister or these are studies that you yourself sent directly to the minister. I simply want to say—and I'm not asking you to comment—that I find it hard to believe that.
Having said that, I also find it hard to understand how it is that, in the things—and I call them “things”—that you sent us, we can't find the evaluation of Trade Routes which is on the website. That was done in 2007, and it waxes rhapsodic on the subject of Trade Routes. This is a program of direct interest to you. The evaluation states that 80% of respondents consider the program invaluable and useful for their organization. A distinct majority, 61% found it very useful. Using the program resulted in an increase in clients' trade links. Virtually all Trade Routes clients (91%) said they wanted more.
And you turn around and advise the minister—that was in the fall of 2007—to terminate the program because you had allegedly met your priorities. What priorities? The artists came here, exactly where you are, and told us they had no other options. There is a small program at the Canada Council for the Arts that does not allow them to apply for more than $50,000. In any case, that program has a budget of less than $1 million and it previously had $7 million.
As you will understand, there is currently an enormous hole in the supply of Canadian government services to cultural organizations, particularly those that conduct foreign tours. There is no longer a single door to knock on—they all said this—for touring abroad.
Is it because your department has decided that it is no longer one of Canada's priorities to send performing artists outside the country?