Mr. Bouchard, the assurances given by Telesat Canada stem from section 28(2) of the Telecommunications Act. According to this provision, should a dispute arise at some point in time between the distribution undertaking, Bell ExpressVu for example, and Telesat Canada, and should Bell ExpressVu require additional capacity to distribute its services in high definition, which would require having more space if the data compression system is inadequate, then the CRTC could be asked to step in and arbitrate the dispute, not merely to demand that the distribution undertaking be given the space, but also to impose the conditions under which that would happen. That is the only protection that exists.
Regarding your other question about satellite users like Bell ExpressVu and Shaw and how this could impact us, it has been said that Bell ExpressVu and Shaw are merely responsible for transmitting content. They are heavily involved in the service itself. They select the services and negotiate a price with us in order to offer these services. Rates are neither imposed nor regulated. They are negotiated with us, on a service by service basis. They may decide that there is no room for our service under the conditions they demand, unless they obtain them free of charge.
So then, this is not the role of a public telecommunications carrier that works with rates that have already been approved or that has rate approval mechanisms in place. We must negotiate with them. They promote our services. As I said earlier, we don't even know who our subscribers are, unlike the distribution undertaking that bills customers at month's end. Therefore, they really have some control over our activities.
We are not saying that we want the status quo or asking you to take no action whatsoever. If you decide one day that it is necessary to do away with restrictions on foreign ownership, then take action as recommended in the two studies conducted by panels of experts. If you change the rules of foreign ownership with respect to distribution undertakings, whether it be cable or satellite operators, or Bell ExpressVu or Shaw, take the time to weigh the potential impact of the change on broadcasting services in Canada.
We will have an opportunity at that point to take a serious look at the ramifications and at the mechanisms to bring in to maintain our broadcasting system as the envy of the whole world. Our services are of a much higher quality and are more diverse than those in France and in England. Only the United States offer more services than we do. We provide a wide range of services and genres. We have 250 specialty services that have been approved by the CRTC. France and England can't say as much. We should be very proud of our Canadian broadcasting system and we need to take steps to ensure that the system continues to operate for the benefit of Canadians who have more choices available to them than anyone else in the world, with the exception of Americans.