Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are together for this meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
Good afternoon, Ms. Laurendeau. I am happy to see you in this unusual context. I listened to your presentation and I heard you say that 96% of the announced amount had been disbursed. Congratulations. Perhaps it's a bit like the decor around you: it seems like you've been on a big construction site over the past few months. That's one way of expressing our appreciation, because the federal public service has risen to the challenge before it.
You mentioned that there have been two $500-million announcements, one in April and a more concrete one in May. I had spoken with the minister and asked him for more details, as did my colleague Alain Rayes. I think that you have nevertheless succeeded in supporting the central agencies that are the usual partners of Canadian Heritage. Twice in your presentation, you mentioned that you had sought to broaden your support somewhat. You mentioned amounts, and I'd like to hear more about that.
For example, an organization in my riding, the Festival jazz etcetera Lévis, is a partner of Canadian Heritage. It was very pleased and grateful to be able to count on you. However, there are organizations that are not necessarily part of the organization chart or structure. How have you been able to help these organizations?
I'm going to ask my second question right now. You are indeed helping the core organizations, but the effects are not being felt in the communities. The consumer may not have seen them because of the cancellation of events.
How can we maintain cultural vitality and see its effects? Sometimes organizations raise funds, but their event does not take place and the funds are not used. How do you see this playing out?
In summary, can you talk about helping organizations that are not in your usual matrix, and then what happens next?