Canadian Heritage committee  I haven't been in the past either.

Canadian Heritage committee  Have I—

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm not currently close to the government.

Canadian Heritage committee  I will take that under advisement and get more information for you for our next meeting.

Canadian Heritage committee  Our efforts should be focused on programming. Our efforts should be focused on expanding into the regions. That is difficult when you have to concern yourself with the uncertainty of funding from parliamentary allocations from one year to the next, in an environment where you do have ongoing inflation, and you have ongoing demands for upgrading your technologies and also attracting good people.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, I have done nothing with the Conservatives. However, I must tell you that, in April, I became a member of the Conservative Party in the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence in order to support Joseph Oliver, who was nominated in that riding.

Canadian Heritage committee  In fact, my expertise is not in the broadcasting field, but rather in business, that is to say that I can work with operations advisors and managers and in corporate management.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you when you say I have a background.

Canadian Heritage committee  Right.

Canadian Heritage committee  We could be here a long time. There are many aspects of CBC that I follow. Of course, everyone has a great love for the radio, whether you're in your car or on the road. It's one of the great institutions that we have across this country. My familiarity with Radio-Canada is less profound, but I'm certainly aware of it.

Canadian Heritage committee  I enunciated the role of the public broadcaster quite clearly in my speech. We have to work in a framework of a situation where you have strong private broadcasters. We've seen three consolidations take place in the last year in this country, so that's what public broadcasting in the world of television is up against.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, I'm honoured to be here with you today as the new chair of the board of CBC/Radio-Canada. This is my first time before a parliamentary committee. This committee's interest in Canada's public broadcaster is well known, and I look forward to meeting with you often during my term.