Radio-Canada is a very important organization for francophone communities outside Quebec. I am in complete agreement with you. The corporation broadcasts information in both official languages from coast to coast to coast, and is also crucial for Quebec culture.
As I already mentioned, I understand the situation you are facing in New Brunswick. I indicated in my opening remarks that Maillardville is the largest francophone municipality west of Manitoba. There are 10,000 francophones living in my community. For them, Radio-Canada is a major source of information broadcast in French, their mother tongue. Without Radio-Canada, they would have no French-language programming. This is a priority for our government. As you know, this year we are investing $1.1 billion, an unprecedented amount, in Radio-Canada. The government provides the corporation with two-thirds of its annual funding, with the remainder made up of advertising revenue. The corporation is facing the same kinds of challenges as those in the private broadcasting sector. I have had a number of meetings with Hubert Lacroix, the President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. In passing, I have full confidence in his leadership abilities and trust that he can offer French- and English-language services across Canada, according to the needs of Canadians.