Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to begin by making one comment. It is clear to me that our Conservative friends are pro-Bush and that they're very happy with that idea. However, the fact is that Radio-Canada is a Canadian radio network and if we really want to show respect for Canadians, we certainly won't do so by defending George Bush.
Let's get back to Radio-Canada. Mr. Lafrance and Mr. Lalande, I believe that the situation you have described is fairly common. As I was saying earlier, I'm from New Brunswick. I know that you want to provide some flexibility and that there are three million francophones living in Montreal, but I think there has to be some logic, which can be difficult at times.
For example, it happens that right in the middle of Le téléjournal midi/Atlantique broadcast on RDI, the program is interrupted because there is flooding on Highway 40. For an hour, we hear about people trying to figure out why the storm sewers have backed up. Of course, this brings a smile to your face. But the reality is that even if they were to talk about it for 24 hours running, we would never learn anything more about the reason for the flooding. When the program airs in Atlantic Canada, it's 12 o'clock. Even if you waited 15 or 20 minutes to air special programming about the reason why the storm sewers on Highway 40 are backed up, it wouldn't change much. It's all well and good to want to keep people informed, but someone who is behind the wheel of his car will only know that there is a traffic jam on Highway 40 if he listens to the radio.
You may well be in the midst of making changes to increase your flexibility, but it's important to remember that there have been similar situations in the past. So, you need to understand that we have reservations and are wondering whether things are really going to improve. You say they are and that the process has already begun, but, as the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.
As for newscasts, it's always a question of cost. It's always a matter of figuring out whether you have the necessary budget or not. When there is a news item out of the Atlantic, the event has already occurred. Why couldn't a news item from the Maritimes be included, from time to time, in the national newscast, so that we would see a reflection of ourselves? Francophones in Canada would have an opportunity to see what's going on in the Maritimes or in Manitoba. Even if it was only the occasional news item, people would have a much greater sense that RDI is also their network. I would be interested in your comments on that.
My last question has to do with radio. In my riding, there are still some areas where access is limited to the AM band. At the same time, there are other areas where they have access to FM. In areas that have access to AM, very often it is impossible to receive FM. Do your conduct reviews from time to time to see whether radio programming carried on Radio-Canada can be heard everywhere or whether there is a need to improve inefficient systems?