Thank you, Mr. Chair.
On the subject that Ms. Britski was just talking about, I'd like to turn to Ms. Blanchette from ACTRA, from whom we haven't yet heard.
Ms. Blanchette, you have some interesting proposals, including not taxing the first $15,000 and, of course, the issue of employment insurance. We absolutely must do something to make it easier for artists to qualify for the safety net that is employment insurance. They need it badly.
You also talked about income averaging. If I'm not mistaken, you're proposing income averaging over a four-year period. In Quebec, things work a little differently. In fact, the tax system allows artists to purchase an annuity. In a good year, they can purchase an annuity for a less profitable year, which in many cases is the following one. This might include artists who want to prepare a new show, album recording or production, for example.
How are these two proposals compatible, in your opinion?
Why would the four-year income averaging formula be preferable to the one in place in Quebec?