The current impression is that the text seems too vague. It refers to the appointment of an administrative entity but the wording is so vague that it is impossible to determine the nature or identity of that entity. The only thing we learn on page 207 is that it will be independent. However the bill as such is very vague. It does not specify whether it will be an independent entity and does not indicate either if the relevant provisions will be included in the bill or in regulations, as that is possible. We thus have the impression that things are vague and that there are still a lot of factors to be determined going forward.
This legislative proposal seems rushed and it seems to have been prepared in the wrong order. We should first have established this panel of independent experts, then included the independent entity in Bill C-97, or in regulations. Things were simply poorly executed, but that is not the fault of the people we have in front of us today. Clearly things were done in the wrong order and did not follow a process which would satisfy all of the members of the committee, including myself.
Ms. Lavoie, my question is about the credit for the employees. The bill proposes that there be a $55,000 cap for each salary that can be deducted as a labour expense, if I understood correctly. How did we arrive at this amount? Would it be possible to know more? Is this the result of consultations on the average salary in journalism organizations?