Thank you very much.
This committee has previously discussed a number of changes to the enabling fund. I think it is important to clarify how that all works and what has changed.
First, the budget has not been cut. The overall budget, which is roughly $12 million a year and is available to 14 organizations across the country, remains the same. To answer the other question in part, I would note that we have been working with the same organizations for more than 10 years. The idea is really to maintain a stable network.
Second, this is quite a separate initiative. Its main aim is to support a network. Some 70% of total funding is currently allocated to what may be called core funding or operating costs. Since the objective is to support a network, that network has to be funded. Consequently, that percentage is much higher than in the case of other grants and contributions awarded by our department, but that is because the objective is very different. The idea is to establish a stable network.
It is important to note that this 70% figure applies across the country, but it varies considerably from one province or territory to another. In some provinces where infrastructure is quite extensive, our network is not required to invest as much or to contribute to their core funding. Those provinces can allocate more funding to services. In a few provinces and territories, virtually all money is allocated to core funding, whereas the figure is about 50% in others.
Two important things have changed as a result of the roadmap. First, we are requesting a 30% increase in investments, resources from the private sector. As I mentioned, it is important that the private sector engage in these discussions in order to support economic development. We are not calling for a 30% increase right now; we want to see that increase by the end of the four years remaining in the term of the roadmap. This is a modest rise to be achieved over a period of four years.
Second, we want the 70% increase allocated to core funding to be reduced to 58%. Once again, we are talking about a gradual, modest reduction to be achieved by the end of the roadmap's four remaining years. This target does not apply to all organizations. We are asking each to move a little in that direction. We are asking those for which 100% of the money is allocated to core funding to reduce that percentage to 90%, not 58%. The 58% figure is an overall target.
Ms. Gareau is currently working with those organizations to see how they can achieve these targets.