Canadian Heritage committee  We would be happy to submit a written response.

Canadian Heritage committee  The current funding structure is such that with the kind of support we offer from the federal government, on average, all the organizations we support throughout Canada generate a total revenue of about $1 billion. Our share of that $1 billion is now at 7%. It's at one of the lowest levels in the history of the Canada Council during the last 50 years.

Canadian Heritage committee  As you know, there are 11 government-appointed representatives who sit on our board of directors. Over the years, we came to realize that the presence of artists on the board of directors—Karen Kain, from the National Ballet of Canada is the Chair of the board—brings a great sensitivity to the organization about the situation of artists.

Canadian Heritage committee  I believe that the CBC has made a great contribution to the arts and to culture. However, having an artist on the board of directors would allow it perhaps to have an even better understanding of current developments in the artistic world.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  We were speaking more specifically of preserving the archive of Canadian culture. Many of the artistic achievements of 50 years ago are stored in the CBC archives. This is a unique role they play, and it's very important for our own culture.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's a huge technical and programming challenge for the CBC. Radio is an easier way to disseminate work on multiple channels, and the same thing for the Internet. But for television, with the new technological changes that are happening right now, there is a potential for the CBC to do the same thing on television that they've done for radio and for the Internet.

Canadian Heritage committee  John, do we have a quick solution? No.

Canadian Heritage committee  We've alluded to some of the fulfillment of the mandate that we would see better accomplished with increased funding. The first one would be regional voices. As you know, the CBC, as well as the Canada Council, early on developed its presence in major urban centres. That has changed over 50 years.

Canadian Heritage committee  Exactly.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, we don't.

Canadian Heritage committee  It can be a challenging relationship. The reason for this is the multiplicity now of art forms, the multiplicity of artistic approaches, and the autonomy that technology brings to them. So even if they are more powerful to create their own art in their own space, in fact they face a huge wall when they want to go beyond their own creation.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. The recent evolution of technology has changed the way of production of many artists, speaking more specifically of media artists, film artists, music artists. The production has moved from sharing a studio to home, most of the time. So you are in a situation where you have more and more autonomous production of art, but the dissemination is lacking.

Canadian Heritage committee  Exactly.