Thank you for that answer.
I was a little surprised by your statement that the CBC is receiving record funding. Two weeks ago, it lost 35% of its funding envelope from the Canada Media Fund. When that guarantee was announced, CBC said it would be able to compete because it is first and foremost in prime-time drama and comedy. It didn't mind losing the guarantee, and it expected to be able to compete fairly.
The government has, as you said, increased funding from $300 million to $350 million, but CBC has just found out that it is now going to lose $12.6 million in funding under the Canada Media Fund for this year. That amount represents three half-hour comedy shows, 1.5 one-hour dramas, or 36 one-hour documentaries. Radio-Canada would lose 20 hours of children's programs or 15 documentary programs.
The reason is that the rules aren't in place for administering the money for new prime-time innovative drama and comedy. Specialty networks are still making money off the Canada Media Fund. The private networks are doing fine on that, but CBC has been given the message that it's losing $12.6 million.
What's going on with this fund that it doesn't have the rules in place?