The first suggestion is to re-evaluate the CEWS relationship to organizations that do not have income. Again, we're not able to generate any income and offset the reduction of CEWS. For the arts particularly, if CEWS could be maintained at the level it was at this year, that would be one positive step.
A second one would be to re-examine the Canada Council evaluation of applicants who may not have a track record, in order to be able to open the door for allowing new applicants to programs within Canada Council programs, because at this point that's a roadblock that we can't get past.
The third option is to look at other programs within Heritage, such as the building communities through arts and heritage festival programming. Once again, there are potential opportunities, but I will say that the length of time that is required to go from the application deadline to the decision has now reached six months and is reaching eight months. Organizations do not have eight months—or even six months—to wait for the adjudication of applications. It would be really helpful if it could be 60 days or a maximum of 90 days from the time of application to the time of decision. Even knowing a negative decision is more helpful than waiting 120 or 180 days for a decision on programs.
Speed things up, open the doors and maintain CEWS. Those would be three directions we'd suggest, Mr. Shields.