Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Kearney, let me turn to you right away.
In your opening remarks, you talked at length about the Live Nation situation, which is a major concern and raises a lot of questions. I have to tell you that we have heard you and we are extremely worried by it all. Discussions are taking place and pressure is being applied so that the rules can be changed to the benefit of many in the environment who are harmed by the actions of certain huge multinationals. As you know, this does not just affect festivals and shows, it also affects a number of other aspects of cultural life in Quebec and Canada.
I would like to talk to you a little about the state of festivals. Your group, REFRAIN, represents many regional festivals and many small festivals that are extremely diverse and often thematic. They reveal aspects of our culture that are not easily available, or not as easily presented outside a festival structure.
Could you tell us a little about the ways in which these festivals have to fund themselves? Do some organizers feel a kind of lack of commitment on the part of the federal government? I personally receive several appeals along those lines. How can we get back on track and make sure that these festivals, significant and often underfunded as they are, as I said, can continue to present their offerings?