Canadian Heritage committee  I am not giving you an answer, because I would be breaching my duty of discretion as a quasi-judicial member of a tribunal with respect to the matter.

Canadian Heritage committee  I can't agree or disagree with what you just said, but I can say that, on December 1, every Canadian subscriber.... Many Canadians could actually choose to get free over-the-air services. They are still available. Some Canadians might just choose to supply themselves with streaming services.

Canadian Heritage committee  We don't regulate newspapers, so we didn't envision or review anything of this nature. I think that historically newspapers have been seen as largely within provincial responsibility, and they are certainly not the CRTC's responsibility. That said, we often look at what the broadcasting system offers, whether radio or television, in terms of diversity of voices.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's certainly a comment we've heard from others. As I mentioned earlier, we have the renewal of the licences of CTV, Global, and all those services at this November hearing, and this is something we will be discussing with both the intervenors and the parties seeking to have their licences renewed.

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't purport to be an expert on Facebook advertising, other than as an occasional user of advertising services to get Canadians to come to our hearings.

Canadian Heritage committee  We want to reach everyone, so we always have a multi-platform approach. That's because Canadians are on various platforms. We have used Facebook as a means of getting part of the demographic in Canada interested in our proceedings, but we also use print and other platforms.

Canadian Heritage committee  There are people and groups that have made a lot of noise about this and have put out information that is incorrect. The commission started on this process to look at how we fund Canadian-made productions in a streaming world. The origin was in 2013, when we started our Let's Talk TV proceedings.

Canadian Heritage committee  First, one must remember that the aspect of Let's Talk TV that deals with consumer and subscriber choice is being implemented in phases. The first phase was the one in March, which dealt with smaller packages—people often talk about “skinny basic”. The more important second phase is coming on December 1, when Canadians will have the opportunity, across all types of television service providers, to have exactly what they want to meet their particular family's needs.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for trying to explain a very complicated matter in one minute. I understand. I was obviously—

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. Madam Chair—

Canadian Heritage committee  Okay, thanks. Good. The first point I would make is that I think there's an important distinction between local news and information, which is under a completely different point system from the one you're asking a question about, which deals with documentaries, dramas, and comedies and only applies to those.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a few opening remarks. Thank you for inviting me to appear before the committee. Local communities look to the media to keep them informed on the subjects and issues that matter to them. They look to the media to reflect the diversity of the people who live there.

Official Languages committee  Once it's been completed, we will gladly send you the documentation through the clerk.

Official Languages committee  I was an assistant secretary within the Treasury Board in the past. I know that the people from the Treasury Board Secretariat are aware of the burden they sometimes place on small organizations.

Official Languages committee  If you compare us to an organization like the Canada Revenue Agency, we are small. So they are trying to reduce our workload. That is as far as the Treasury Board Secretariat is concerned. As for us, we do not expect reports every three years. We do it because it is the right thing to do.