Well, I like to think I'm friendly, but a giant, perhaps not.
I want to dive into this. I'd be derelict in my duties if I didn't get into the regional aspect of it, given the fact that I come from Newfoundland and Labrador.
By the way, congratulations on your production of Republic of Doyle. It has created a lot of excitement in a market that is small, but we do it quite well. It's a cool show. We like to think it's pretty cool, and it's met with a great deal of success. But that being said, it's great for the community there, the independent producers, the people involved in film-making, and beyond just the local programming or just the news value of Here and Now , the local news show.
One of the things I've always enjoyed about CBC was that it shared a story based in one area with the entire country. I can go to CBC and I can learn about the history of the pipe organs of Quebec, and how it's such a world-famous industry. I didn't know that until a short time ago. We can learn about how they discovered dinosaurs in Alberta. We can learn through the stories told of Newfoundland. For example, CBC covered our commemorations of 9/11—how Gander was opened—and the movie as well. That the story played out through the rest of the country is, to me, the ultimate expression of how the CBC was the cultural crossroads.
I worry about that in light of certain cuts that are coming. I understand the fact that we all have to tighten our belts, and that sort of thing, but if we're talking about a possibility of a $100 million or more deficiency in revenues—I'm not saying that's what it is, I'm just saying that it's a possibility—then how does regional programming survive that? In other words, that third pillar, which means so much to me, has to be somewhat shakey in looking at something like that.