Information & Ethics committee  Why would I do that?

Information & Ethics committee  First of all, I'm not asking. The editorial departments are asking this question, and this is a public corporation. They receive over $1 billion of public funds. Why would we do this?

Information & Ethics committee  I don't think so at all, Mr. Andrews. We don't really care ourselves what price they pay for their outdoor advertising. But we think that Canadians would eventually be interested to know how much they're spending there. We don't care. In fact, you know, as a policy, we're not really using outdoor advertising.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not saying we're never going to bid on the Olympics. It's probably too expensive and we're not going to be able to compete with the zillions of dollars that CBC/Radio-Canada have to bid on the Olympic Games. But I would answer your question. If I were to follow your logic, no one would be able to ask any questions of the CBC/Radio-Canada because it would come from a media company.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Andrews, I think you're confusing everything. We're not a public corporation.

Information & Ethics committee  Do you want to compare the amount of money that we receive as public funds to the amount that CBC/Radio-Canada receives? It's a drop in the bucket.

Information & Ethics committee  No, we're not looking for commercial information. We're looking for information to be able to provide Canadians the proper knowledge on how CBC/Radio-Canada manages public funds. This is what this business is all about. As we do require to know—

Information & Ethics committee  We're the largest media company. I think it would be a problem not to use Sun Media and the many other assets that we manage, because we're, as I mentioned in my introduction, the largest newspaper chain in Canada, on top of being the largest private media company.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, you know what, sir? They've advertised with us previously. Two years ago, before they went with a boycott policy, they used our media many times because they know that we have been reaching an audience for many years. On top of that, we have information that the agencies representing CBC/Radio-Canada have received strict advice or direction not to use our media company.

Information & Ethics committee  Not specifically. But I would be inclined to think that's the kind of thing that comes from the newsroom.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not someone who would be either a politician or a semantics expert.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not using the term "state broadcaster". CBC/Radio-Canada had been using it. I would say that you need to call a spade a spade. This is what this animal is all about. Therefore, what's the problem? I don't see any issue, personally. That's certainly my own opinion. I guess no one would really care about it.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I read that yesterday. I found that completely defamatory and dangerous. I've been looking at the numbers they've been mentioning, and I've never seen something so false and so malicious. In fact, right now we are reviewing our legal recourse to find out what the follow-up will be to that.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't have the specific details. I'm not managing any newsroom. I guess this may be public information--or not. If it's public information, this is available. If not, then it's not.

Information & Ethics committee  Not specifically.