Finance committee  Your answer was right, in that the government isn't here to.... Nobody would propose that the government tell the CBC what to do and how to program. The CBC does, in my view, a mixed job about responsiveness to the audience, but that's not a function of its funding. In terms of accountability, there are two kinds of accountability it needs to have.

Finance committee  --this is it. On the whole topic of Radio 2, people field a lot of complaints about a lot of stuff, whether it's The National, Radio 2, program X, or program Y, on whatever platform. This issue about funding your public broadcaster and my public broadcaster and Canadians' public broadcaster is much bigger than program X or program Y.

Finance committee  I know, I know, but I really urge people--because I've been around for awhile on this--not to weigh in to--

Finance committee  There are mechanisms for that. There are annual meetings with the public. There's all of that. But I really do think that for the CBC to do this, it has to be part of the memorandum of understanding, if it's an important consideration.

Finance committee  Don't forget, I'm speaking on behalf of the employees. How does the CBC do this?

Finance committee  That's what makes up the difference. That's what has enabled the CBC to run. But it's also, at the same time, a double-edged sword to have advertising. It makes it more commercial. It makes ratings the imperative. It creates a different landscape of choices when you start relying on advertising.

Finance committee  Let me make this perfectly clear. The heritage committee, actually, are the ones recommending that there be a memorandum of understanding, which is a contract between the government and the CBC, that would last for a seven-year period. That would be where your accountability is.

Finance committee  It's very low.

Finance committee  This is per capita, so it has nothing to do with size of country. This is per capita.

Finance committee  It's unbelievably difficult. It's done with a lot of dedication on the part of employees. It's staggering what the CBC does with such a small amount of money, for what broadcasting takes.

Finance committee  Yes, there is an advertising component.

Finance committee  Thank you to the committee for having us here today. I am Lise Lareau, the president of the Canadian Media Guild, which represents about 6,000 people at various media employers across the country. Most of my members work at CBC/Radio-Canada, and that's what I'm here to talk to you about today.