Canadian Heritage committee  That is an excellent question. Let me go back to 2009, when the fund was overhauled. it was not a huge overhaul, but the decision was still made to support two priorities that came from the music industry. They often tell us that Canadian artists and Canadian content are not sufficiently featured on digital platforms, or on other kinds.

Canadian Heritage committee  You worked in the industry. If there was a miracle recipe, Sony would still be one of 17 in Montreal.

Canadian Heritage committee  If I may add to that, we do, as part of the public policy development process, evaluate those programs from time to time. Normally it's every five years. There's an ongoing evaluation on the objectives of the program and whether they are met, and we get recommendations on ways to improve.

Canadian Heritage committee  He mentioned the Junos.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. For the Junos or the Gala de l'ADISQ, which is the French equivalent of the Juno Awards, there's a producer and a committee. They bring in the popular stars of the year. This is how they're selected. The government has nothing to do with picking artists. This is as true for the performances at the Juno Awards as it is for picking projects and which artists we should invest in or not.

Canadian Heritage committee  In terms of revenue from album sales, the pie was quite big in the 1980s, but it has got smaller since. The figures are probably good. We do not invent figures like that.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Dion, the shrinking pie phenomenon is not unique to Quebec or to Canada. No one has found the magic recipe yet, not even the multinationals. A few years ago, there were seven of them. Now there are three. So there have been mergers, acquisitions, and so on. Music entrepreneurs are trying to find a new business model centred on an artist.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Dion, all I can tell you is that the funding amounts to $24.61 million.

Canadian Heritage committee  That is correct.

Canadian Heritage committee  The CRTC has a definition for Canadian content. It has set up a system of four—

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  —Great Britain.

Canadian Heritage committee  We have been either second or third for a decade now.

Canadian Heritage committee  It is not an improvement, but it is not a loss either.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, since you're asking, I certainly have an opinion. We have a holistic approach to music policy in this country that is envied around the world. If I had an opportunity from your perspective to question Canadian artists, I would ask them, when they tour abroad and they meet other artists from other countries, what are the other countries doing for their artists?