Canadian Heritage committee  In fact, all aspects of the fund are to support artists. For instance, in 2005, we made some significant changes. I was referring to that in my presentation. We realized that a major part of the funding was going to too small a group of music sector entrepreneurs. We made some changes and thereby increased diversity.

Canadian Heritage committee  I mentioned this in my presentation. The evaluation process is one tool to help in making decisions about program orientation and resource allocation. The department gave the advice to the minister. That's our job. That advice is based on the summative evaluation. It's based on public policy development work that we do continuously within the department.

Canadian Heritage committee  But let me finish.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chair, I think I have the right to.... I would like to have the time to answer the question. You could have status quo. That's an option. You do nothing. You take the summative evaluation and you do nothing. You could reduce the budget or eliminate the program. That's another option.

Canadian Heritage committee  Let me remind the members this was not our panel; it was the consultant's panel—

Canadian Heritage committee  Let me finish. Mr. Chair—

Canadian Heritage committee  I am really glad you asked that question. Most recipients already have access to the FACTOR and MUSICACTION programs. Andrée and Heather talked about it. The Canada Council for the Arts has an envelope of approximately $30 million for the music sector, including $9 million for this kind of sound recording.

Canadian Heritage committee  Pierre, can you answer that question?

Canadian Heritage committee  Pierre is talking about one part of the consultations. In any program evaluation, a rigorous methodology is followed...

Canadian Heritage committee  You asked me who had been consulted.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would like to respond. The independent consultant sent out 1,500 questionnaires. With regard to the evaluation, there were interviews, bilateral meetings with about 40 key informants, including key stakeholders in the music industry. Following that evaluation, we held a round table with people from the music distribution industry.

Canadian Heritage committee  The volume of sound recordings will not drop because we are modernizing the fund.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning to everyone. First, on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage, I wish to thank the committee for inviting us to appear today to explain the context surrounding the changes that were made to the Canada Music Fund as part of its recent renewal.

Canadian Heritage committee  We do provide a briefing note to the minister on all CRTC reports, so we would brief the minister on the impact of that report.

Canadian Heritage committee  The relationship between the minister and the CRTC is very well regulated, as you know. On the report that the government has asked the CRTC to produce for the impact of new technologies for the broadcasting system, this is a report that's going to land on my minister's desk, and I will be looking at it with my colleague from broadcasting policy, my colleague from new media, and my colleague from copyright.