Welcome everyone.
CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate has always been problematic. You said you would welcome a discussion on that, but there is another issue, as well. CBC/Radio-Canada seems to have a hybrid mandate, and that is inevitably reflected in its funding, which is also hybrid. And the result is that you have a public corporation that is not quite a public corporation, often having to rely on advertising revenue from private TV companies.
I know you are smart enough to know that this problem exists. Your funding problems, if you will, are reflected in how you carry out your mandate.
On page 2 of your plan, you say you want to address Canadians as citizens who want to be informed, challenged and entertained. You want to offer Canadian content, but you air too many American programs that come with a hefty price tag. The one that troubles me most is Beautés désespérées, originally Desperate Housewives, perhaps because of the location. It is a total depiction of American culture. Is it really your mandate to air American television shows? Is it really your mandate to create specialty channels? Is it really your mandate to offer reality TV? Do you not do these three things to generate revenue because of inadequate funding?