Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to share my time with Monsieur Nantel.
Minister, I'm going to ask you two questions in two key areas, and if you would, a written response would be appreciated.
The first area has to do with APTN. As a minister from Winnipeg, a Métis woman from the Red River Settlement, you of course know that APTN is the world's first truly national aboriginal television broadcaster. They're experiencing some real difficulties. Last year the Canada Media Fund cut APTN's English envelope by 55% and the French envelope by 42%. This was a huge financial hit, so the answers I would like in writing from you are: what are you doing to ensure that APTN receives sufficient revenues from the Canada Media Fund so they can meet the conditions of their licence in the programming genres as well as language and the other requirements?
Would the government consider increasing the aboriginal language funding to help offset the losses experienced? Would you, Minister, consider the aboriginal language fund be reserved exclusively for APTN?
My second area of concern has to do with Library and Archives. I have heard from Canadians across the country, and they have expressed concern about Canadian government library closures. Would you be willing to consult with the archivists, CLA, and provide a more thorough description of the process taken to review collections and have a more transparent process for the management of these valuable, publicly owned collections? We're not sure where these collections are going. Will they be properly preserved? It is very important.
I thank you for those responses, Minister, and I'll turn it over to Monsieur Nantel.