I have always been in favour of decentralization, to give the regions more roles and powers. In all of the departments I worked for, I found that our regions provided a certain wealth that was not always exploited fully. The Department of Canadian Heritage is not an exception. I find that the regions' place has shrunk over the past few years, both with respect to the size of their teams and their influence. Ever since I came here, I have tried to see how we could broaden their role.
There is another interesting aspect, thanks to new technology. It is possible to have programs that are managed in a given region, but have a national impact. There is no reason why we could not do that. So there are some opportunities in that area. I would like to find a way of improving the situation. This could also attract people who are interested in the public service, such as people who are proud to be Acadians or Newfoundlanders, for example, and who would like to work in their own regions if possible.