Thank you for the question and for your co‑operation. Let me also thank you for our work together over the last few years and our work together on Bill C‑2.
I am very pleased that you noticed the effort I made at the beginning of my remarks to respond to your letter. That was intentional. We read your letter and discussed those themes. You raised the issue of the cultural sector. I want to start by saying that our government is also concerned about the cultural sector.
It is an important economic sector, both socially and in terms of the national identity of Quebec and Canada. As we were negotiating the new NAFTA, we stressed this aspect and we defended the cultural sector because our government understands the importance of the sector, especially, but not only, in Quebec. We agree on that. We also agree that the cultural sector is particularly affected by the COVID‑19 pandemic. It is a sector that cannot completely reopen. So we agree on what needs to be done.
That being said, we must determine how it needs to be done. In October, we made a decision, and today I am completely convinced that it was the right one. We decided to change the way we do things and convert general support programs for all to targeted programs. We made that decision because the situation had changed, because our fairly successful fight against the virus allowed us to change our approach. We also did so because it is important for us, as it is for everyone around the table, to take a fiscally prudent approach. So we have moved from a broad approach to a targeted approach.
In order to have a targeted approach, we are going to do three things. First, the programs in Bill C‑2 will help many businesses in the cultural sector. We need to see that. Second, Mr. Ste‑Marie, I agree with you on the importance of the issue of self‑employed cultural workers. Finally, we believe that a targeted program must be created for those workers because they are in a special situation.
During the election campaign, we made a commitment to help those workers. We are working out the details of the program that will be rolled out. I am absolutely ready today to reiterate publicly that we are doing that. We will be rolling out that program.