Industry committee  We have trusted and we have mandated an MVNO regime to the major incumbent players you mentioned. With recommendations and full public hearings, we looked at the model and ensured that this gave the best ability for us to build out and maintain not just good prices but also innovation and more choice through more competition on that front.

Industry committee  I wouldn't have it here, but we can provide it to the committee.

Industry committee  Actually, when you look at the numbers and the level of data consumed, you see that Canadians are looking for faster speeds, because speed is certainly an implication as we are consuming more data, more video and more high-bandwidth services. However, when you look at the rate for what is consumed on an average basis, the actual rate has been decreasing tremendously on that front.

Industry committee  Thank you for inviting us to appear before your committee today. Before I begin my remarks, I'd like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I am joined today by my colleagues Ian Baggley, director general, Telecommunications, and Anthony McIntyre, general counsel.

Public Accounts committee  We've launched two major projects. First of all, we've put a lot of emphasis on our new cellular plan to make sure there's more competition. It's a model based on negotiations and exchanges, as well as network usage. It's something completely new, something we haven't done before in cellular services.

Canadian Heritage committee  One of the key objectives of the act is essentially that Canadians who produce Canadian content be promoted and discovered by Canadians on these platforms.

Canadian Heritage committee  There are many definitions of what constitutes Canadian content. When it comes to a piece of music, the CRTC has a mechanism—

Canadian Heritage committee  I'd like to make a clarification. The CRTC plans to hold public hearings before implementing its broadcasting regulations. This will ensure that all the ins and outs of the CRTC's powers are well known. The nine members of the CRTC will consider the arguments raised and make a decision, which will be made public and will be very clearly explained to the public.

Canadian Heritage committee  The CRTC's goal is not to regulate algorithms, but to ensure that the entire broadcasting system meets the objectives in the act. To do that, we need to put in place regulations to promote and support the creation of Canadian content, to support content development, not to try and unravel algorithms.

Canadian Heritage committee  We too are still in the early stages of analyzing the ins and outs of the new legislation. However, there is a general definition that says it is to produce news and general news. This is in the bill at the moment. So it's essentially directed at that purpose. As time goes on, as well as with open processes and public consultations, it's up to us to see and define what is general and what it refers to.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's not our role. We regulate local news. That's our area of expertise. We've explained that—

Canadian Heritage committee  We can only use our current experience in broadcasting, where we do have set standards of service. I can't remember it exactly, but it is in the realm of 55 or 65 working days.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, that's for the final arbitration process. So when there's a conclusion that a deal cannot be reached in our domain, then one of the parties would claim and ask for final arbitration. That's when it starts ticking.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think, having chatted with Mr. Waugh about the situation in Saskatoon a couple of times at committee here, too, I think that's what you're referring to. Since that time, the commission has taken certainly a lot of actions with respect to local television news. It's undeniable that the revenues of these stations have been declining over the years and that the market has changed.

Canadian Heritage committee  That was probably where I was going with my previous response. We've also found ways to ensure that smaller independent stations that operate in markets that are not the major metropolitan markets receive a contribution. This is essentially paid by distributors that help subsidize local news.