Mr. Chair, thank you for giving us this opportunity. I look forward to the next few hours. I think this is a very important discussion and debate to be having. It is important to this side of the House that we make sure we have a strong and vibrant arts and cultural community.
I would like to begin questioning today on an important arts and cultural program, Tomorrow Starts Today.
My staff has contacted the minister's office seven times over the past six weeks and has been unable to obtain any information. The Library of Parliament, a non-partisan agency that helps all members, has been unable to obtain any information. Just this morning, the minister's office told my staff that I would not understand the numbers and that the numbers would be open to misinterpretation unless explained by the minister to me.
Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain detailed financial data on this program until only a couple of hours ago. This funding represents $500 million of government money. These numbers should be readily available to all members and to all Canadians.
The members on this side of the House would like to be assured that this money is getting out to the creators and artists who need it.
On behalf of the arts and cultural communities, on behalf of all Canadians, I ask the minister, can she tell us how much of the $500 million went directly to creators, artists and cultural organizations?
If I may apologize, I know I was to do some housekeeping first. I will not be sharing my time and there will be a short preamble before each of my questions.