First of all, I would say that our government has focused on cultural investments. Canada is the only G7 nation to have kept up its direct funding for artists, following the global recession. We have also kept up our direct funding for museums, sports and official languages. Not a single cut was made in the area of official languages.
But there is no hiding the fact that the global recession resulted in a deficit, as it did in every other country around the world. We had to find ways to protect jobs. Canada's arts and culture sector generates 630,000 jobs and contributes nearly $50 billion to the economy ever year. It's a major driver of economic growth. And that is why Prime Minister Stephen Harper is so committed to supporting arts and culture, and our government will continue to do that.
Turning to CBC/Radio-Canada, I can tell you that the corporation has a budget of over a billion dollars. That money comes from taxpayers because the broadcaster is important to our society. It manages its money as it sees fit. Hubert Lacroix and I met a number of times, and he told me that he was willing to do his part after the global recession. He said he had enough money to carry out his plans for 2015. We work together, yes, but CBC/Radio-Canada makes its own decisions.
You should be asking Mr. Lacroix your questions about CBC/Radio-Canada.