Thank you, Madam Chair.
I totally agree with Mrs. Thomas on this. We only heard from the Alberta and Saskatchewan news associations, but we didn't hear from B.C.'s or others.
When we heard from Saskatchewan, up to 80% of the local newspapers in their province would not qualify with two reporters. We then heard some despairing comments from the Alberta newspapers association. We heard from the publisher of St. Albert that 50% of Alberta will qualify and that this was fine. However, I think around the table, Madam Chair, we would agree that it isn't fine.
We want to include everybody in this bill. When this bill first came out, as you all know, it was designed to help the small and medium-sized newspapers, and I think this is a great change to the bill. I would strongly support it.
We've just heard from two, as I said, from Saskatchewan and Alberta. We didn't hear from any other news agencies across the country, but I'm sure glad that the Conservatives brought Saskatchewan and Alberta together to hear their concerns on this bill. I agree with this amendment wholeheartedly.