As I was trying to explain, 30 years ago it was identified that the funds were insufficient to the council, and after that time the funds were further cut. From 1990 onwards we've been making progress towards recouping where we left off at the time that we said that the funds weren't enough. Of course, also during that time the field has exploded.
So we've done an amazing job in building a cultural infrastructure for Canada over 50 years, but without increased investment, it's a trade-off between whether we just sustain the traditions we've built or we invest in the future generations and a contemporary cultural expression for Canada.
I think this is a really pressing issue today, and the federal government has a role to play. I just want to say that this sector is very cognizant that it's not only the responsibility of the government, but it's a partnership between all of the new ways that we're thinking of working, the ways that we've been able to significantly leverage private sector...and we have. You'll see significant growth in terms of private investment in the arts, way more than governments in the last 20 years. I just want to say that government is part of the solution, and we need to step up because we are approaching a point where there's a whole generation of artists who are much more culturally diverse who don't have a voice.
Thank you.