The CRTC has the power to make regulations in the communications industry, broadcasting, telecom.
In the area specific to music, two regulations address the music sector more specifically.
There are quotas for commercial radio broadcasters. Those quotas are at 35% Canadian content over a week. For French-language radio stations, they have to comply with the 35% and they also have a 65% quota for French-language music, and not necessarily Canadian French-language music; it can be French music from France, Belgium, Africa, wherever. That's one level of regulation.
The other level of regulation is that commercial radio stations have to contribute money to the development of Canadian content. This is on page 8 of our presentation. When Sophie was referring to blended funds, broadcasters have created foundations, organizations to administer collectively all their contributions. For example, CHEZ 106, a radio station here in Ottawa, has to contribute to the development of Canadian talent. They take the amount that they have to give towards Canadian content and they hand it over to FACTOR for administration. All individual radio stations do that. Private sector money goes to FACTOR for the English-language sector, and Musicaction, which is the equivalent for French.
What we did 25 years ago, the government said, “Oh, there are two administrators out there that seem to know about music.” They had a board of people who knew music. The board was composed of broadcasters, the music industry, and some artists. The government said, “We're going to give them some public money to administer.” Of course this is all under contribution agreements. They don't buy yellow buses with that money. They're audited.
This is what Sophie was referring to, the blending of money. It's kind of a public-private partnership.