Official Languages committee  I can assure you that it factors into everything we do.

Official Languages committee  As I said earlier, it may be easier to start up a radio station because the operating costs are much lower. Right now, French-language service comes mostly from Quebec, although TFO, a network funded by the Ontario government, is also available. Currently, as I mentioned, we are about to consider two applications during the hearings in April.

Official Languages committee  Operating a television service is extremely expensive. And I am pleasantly surprised that two stakeholders are looking to offer TV service outside Quebec. They want to represent the francophonie. We will be considering that during the upcoming hearings. I can tell you it's been a few years since we've seen anything like that.

Official Languages committee  Those words are directly out of the Broadcasting Act. Our mandate given to us by Parliament is specifically to supervise and regulate the broadcasting system. The Broadcasting Act actually has a very long policy objective in section 3 that defines what in the end Parliament has decided the broadcasting system should achieve.

Official Languages committee  In a way it is, but those are exactly the words in the act.

Official Languages committee  Right.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  We actually monitor what's happening. We have a research group that tracks how much money is being spent on Canadian.... The supervisory role is broader like that. Moreover, when you issue a licence, you impose a conditional licence, and you have to check whether somebody is meeting that conditional licence.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  That's correct.

Official Languages committee  The length of time will depend on whether it's radio or specialty television or conventional television, and also whether it's in a market that others might be interested in entering, because then we would do a competitive call, especially if there's only one frequency available or only enough economic room for one player.

Official Languages committee  You may have misunderstood me, because that's not exactly what I said.

Official Languages committee  I think we—

Official Languages committee  It depends on the part of the act. One person is in charge of Parts III, IV and V, and another person handles Part VII. Ultimately, I am responsible.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Hutton is the official languages champion, so he may be able to provide some figures. But since we don't divvy things up that way or put a cap on the budget—