Mr. Speaker, the Canadian film industry is a key player on the international scene.
We have every reason to be proud of our creative energy, which is used to show the Canadian heritage on screens all over the world.
The federal government supports Canadian talent. It has established various audiovisual support programs to promote growth in that sector.
Among others, the Canadian television fund allocates $200 million annually for the production of Canadian television programs. As for Telefilm Canada, it provides in excess of $35 million for feature film production.
Canadian artists can also get tax credits to help them complete audio-visual projects. In 1997-98, these credits totalled $21 million.
These are all means by which the Canadian government contributes to the quality of the cultural life in Canada and in Quebec.