Official Languages committee  Mr. Godin, what you're telling me is interesting. When I go to Quebec City, people tell me that Montreal is the centre of attraction. When I go to the Gaspé Peninsula, they tell me that Quebec City is the problem, that everything is related to that city. In western Canada, everyone tells me about Toronto.

Official Languages committee  They talk about Montreal, but they are very interested in watching news that concerns all of Quebec and Canada.

Official Languages committee  You're absolutely right, and, once again, I repeat that we could have done a much better job that evening by reflecting the diversity of all artistic performances that we heard at that event.

Official Languages committee  I know absolutely nothing about it, Mr. Lebel. We allowed gala organizers to think about how they would like to organize the event next year. We are open to a proposal from them that will enable us to work with them again and to meet both their objectives and our own. For the moment, however, I have no idea of their intentions with regard to the 2008-2009 Hall of Fame Gala.

Official Languages committee  I believe it's been three years.

Official Languages committee  I answered that question, Mr. Nadeau. If it had been me, and what I was watching was interesting, I would not have changed channels.

Official Languages committee  That's a very hypothetical question, Mr. Nadeau, because, that evening, Radio-Canada chose not to broadcast the gala. Radio-Canada chooses to broadcast other galas. If you observe what's been done for a number of years, there are numerous galas. For example, Radio-Canada chooses to broadcast the Gala de l'ADISQ, the Gala des Olivier, the Soirée des Jutra and the Prix Gémeaux.

Official Languages committee  You're absolutely right. And during the year, there are more than 200 occasions when we try to build that kind of bridge. You're also right in saying that we could have done better that evening.

Official Languages committee  Radio-Canada's mandate is very clear and stems from the act. Our obligation is to inform and entertain Canadians through essentially Canadian programming on the largest possible number of platforms in order to interest the largest possible number of Canadians.

Official Languages committee  We could have done things differently that evening. I'm not the program director, Mr. Godin. The people who have much greater expertise than I in editing this kind of event, which lasts three and a quarter hours and is cut down to 44 minutes, would be in a better position than I am to answer that.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Chairman, I hope that's what you've understood from my remarks. Mr. Godin, I hope that's what you've understood as well.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Godin, I'm pleased to answer that question because, once again, that's related to the mandate of each of the programs. The people who program them or who have expertise in that field appeal to an audience, in this case a francophone audience. The program's mandate is to target a fundamentally Québécois audience.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Coderre, far be it from me the idea that francophones are second-class citizens. I'm a francophone myself, and I don't consider myself a second-class citizen. Should we be more sensitive? In my presentation, I told you what happened: the impact from the gala has increased our level of sensitivity to this kind of thing.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Nadeau, I will simply refer you to the respect that I know all parliamentarians have for the Broadcasting Act and the independence that CBC/Radio-Canada enjoys under that act. As the Chairman of the Official Languages Committee said at the outset, and as the Chair of the Canadian Heritage Committee has said, all individuals who interact with the representatives, the officers of our company who appear before those committees have always enjoyed parliamentarians' respect with regard to our programming.