Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Tait, we hear about the problems experienced by the CBC, which may be a bit envious of Radio-Canada's successes, and with good reason, because Radio-Canada is a broadcaster that Quebeckers and francophone Canadians everywhere in the country value highly.
We hear about the CBC's setbacks and the current difficulties in the market. I am among those who believe very firmly that it is important to have a public broadcaster. I believe the CBC is essential to Canadian democracy and Radio-Canada is essential to Quebec and francophone culture and to preserving that culture. I think it is essential to keep them both.
However, I also think it is possible that the battle is being fought on the wrong front. I sometimes get the feeling that other ways of saving our public broadcaster, on both the English and French sides, are not being considered. How much does the public broadcaster cost Canadians a year? Do people know? There are people saying we have to stop funding CBC/Radio-Canada because the corporation costs a fortune and is a money pit.