Mr. Speaker, the Bloc has full legitimacy when it comes to defending Quebec artists. It was a Conservative member who publicly stated that, in Quebec, the Bloc Québécois defends culture and artists, and that this government was not buddy-buddy with the artists. It continues to prove it by making unjustified, vicious cuts to funding for artists.
This is not a fiction. We heard this at committee hearings held in recent weeks. CINARS, which represents 300 performing arts organizations throughout Canada, told the committee just how desperate the situation is. The Grands ballets canadiens will be forced to cancel important tours. INIS and Regroupement québécois de la danse also testified. This is not a fiction but a tragedy and we have to fix it.