It's an excellent question. Your question is very important because it helps to debunk the discussion on per capita. If we look at the far north just on a per capita basis, we would not even pay attention to it, but we do pay a lot of attention to it because we think it's a moment in history when we need to give capacity to create to artists no matter where they are—and not to create for the south, but first to create for themselves, and then eventually for the south and for the rest of the world.
A lot of the work we do right now is to make sure that we do have a presence in those regions. We do send program officers. We do develop capacities to apply. We do simplify our programs. When you look the work that is done for certain communities in terms of supporting them to apply to the Canada Council compared what we do in Montreal and Toronto, it is six or seven times, but we think it's a good investment to make.
Actually, this summer, in August I will go personally to do a second big round in the north with some program officers to see where we are. We are very, very proud to say that over the last three years, we have significantly augmented our investments in the north, everywhere in Canada. What we try to do is make sure that we support first and foremost the organizations that are led by indigenous people or local people and that we support them on their own terms in their own context and not try to apply to them rules or context or models of business that may fit in big cities but don't fit in the north.
For us it's a priority. We have targeted funds to make it happen. I think we're making serious progress there. I'm pleased to say that if you read the reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, you'll see that one of the very rare recommendations that has been completely implemented was the one concerning the Canada Council.