Canadian Heritage committee  The scope of the exemption is more—

Canadian Heritage committee  Indeed it was. In this case, it applies more specifically to audiovisual rather than to culture industries as a whole.

Canadian Heritage committee  I have already explained that, as far as we understand the discussions between the negotiating teams, the Europeans want to understand our definition of the provision and how it applies to the agreement as a whole. This is what the minister explained last week. It is basically an

Canadian Heritage committee  As I said earlier, we are in conversation with the negotiators. They share information with us that is generally confidential. We endeavour to keep that information confidential.

Canadian Heritage committee  Our appearance before this committee today is one opportunity. We also widely promote our positions that are already known to the negotiators and to Quebec. Our members also talk about these issues. Everyone is in favour of co-operation, but there needs to be agreement on the for

Canadian Heritage committee  It is—

Canadian Heritage committee  As I explained earlier, the danger is that an exemption agreement be followed immediately by discussions on a protocol. This might tempt those whose business initiatives have been stymied by the exemption to interfere in the debate on cultural co-operation. There could be attempt

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, clearly.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, what I've understood is that the minister made it clear that foreign ownership or investment from Europe would not...you know, the policy remains, so that's one area. But when I was alluding to whether we should revise the exemption clause to consider new forms and new ways

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, we've touched the surface of how far we should go into this, but obviously these are industries. It's like book publishing and sound recording. It's sort of a long list of industries. In fact, what you want to secure is a capacity to create content and to have policies and

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I believe so.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, we first have to secure the exemption itself, as it stands, before we are moving forward on any new proposals or any reconfiguration of the clause itself. Let's win the day on that first, and let's secure the grounds that we have secured thus far. In terms of the audiovis

Canadian Heritage committee  If there is a revision of sorts, that's where I would see it coming from, rather than saying that telco has to be brought into the fold and defined as culture-creating content.

Canadian Heritage committee  Indeed.

Canadian Heritage committee  You are asking me to answer for the Europeans.