Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question is quite interesting. He says that we are going ahead with major cuts. I believe we did not read the same budget.
The budget says that we are reforming the CBC budget as a whole for 1995-96 but we did not talk about cuts afterward. We are doing exactly what the hon. member would like the government to do. We are going ahead with major reform of the CBC's mandate because the government is aware of the financial situation of the country.
We have to take care of the financial situation. At the same time we have to look into the future. In so doing we have to look at reforming the whole system. We have to look at the social safety net and at reforming the system. We will do the same with the CBC.
I believe my colleague's question is a bit premature at this stage because we did not announce any major cuts to the CBC. There is $1.1 billion a year in the budget for the CBC. There is something for the year 1995-96 but thereafter we are doing exactly what the member would like us to do. We are reforming the system.
I am sure the Minister of Canadian Heritage will come back to the House after the standing committee looking at the reform of the mandate makes a decision.