Canadian Heritage committee  At the outset, we rejoiced in this good news. The problem lies really with the fact that this $1.3 million fund has been reallocated. That is what we are really talking about. This is hurting about 100 artists, every year, and is jeopardizing the entire specialized music sector.

Canadian Heritage committee  The Conseil québécois de la musique has put a lot of information on its website. We have included all of the press releases that we have received from groups, associations and political parties. We have also included newspaper articles that we were able to find; there is a hyperlink for these articles.

Canadian Heritage committee  You have to ask the department this question.

Canadian Heritage committee  Ms. Lavallée, I would like to answer you with a question. Why were these programs eliminated? I have neither seen nor read the answer. Perhaps I will hear the answer next week. I do not know the reason.

Canadian Heritage committee  To save money. I don't know.

Canadian Heritage committee  Indeed. There really is no justification.

Canadian Heritage committee  I read the study on the Canada Music Fund, which Heritage Canada did in 2007. The study analyzed the different parts of the program. Although I read the 82 pages of the report, nowhere did it say that there were problems and that the program should be eliminated. On the contrary, as you conclude, the analysis showed that the program was effective.

Canadian Heritage committee  The only small problem was that most respondents said they were not completely happy with the amount of the grant they had received. Indeed, for many years now, artists have been asking that the programs of the Canada Council for the Arts receive more funding.

Canadian Heritage committee  On this very issue, we say that it is not... There is a quote.

Canadian Heritage committee  We say there is no duplication.

Canadian Heritage committee  You could certainly ask them how they plan to support this community which should also, and with good reason, be supported.

Canadian Heritage committee  No.

Canadian Heritage committee  At the Conseil québécois de la musique, we found out about it when the press release of July 31 was published in the newspapers.

Canadian Heritage committee  Good morning. My name is Sylvie Gamache and I am the Director General of the Conseil québécois de la musique. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, on behalf of the members of the Conseil québécois de la musique, or CQM, I would first like to thank the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for holding this meeting, which will allow us to inform you of the foreseeable effects of the cancellation of the Canadian Musical Diversity Component of the Canada Music Fund.