Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, Mr. Shields, but with due respect, the shift from traditional media to social media started under the previous government.

Canadian Heritage committee  It did start under the previous government. It's something that you see across the world. Now, what do we do with that? Do we cross our arms and do nothing, or do we intervene? We said, “We have to intervene.” For weeklies, it's a different program. It's the periodical fund, whi

Canadian Heritage committee  Actually, we don't eliminate anybody. We're trying to—

Canadian Heritage committee  —fix a problem that exists.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Shields, I'm trying to understand. With all due respect, your party seems to be opposing this measure.

Canadian Heritage committee  On the other hand, you seem to say they should get the funds.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, as I mentioned to you, we're supporting the weeklies through the periodical fund. There is $75 million there.

Canadian Heritage committee  It is there for them. It depends. Some of them could qualify under the rules.

Canadian Heritage committee  However, the periodical fund is there, with $75 million, and it has actually always been there. They're allowed to—

Canadian Heritage committee  No.

Canadian Heritage committee  The program was not for the weeklies. It was there for the other papers. For the weeklies, we have the Canada periodical fund.

Canadian Heritage committee  The panel can consider that. I'm not there to tell them what to do.

Canadian Heritage committee  The criteria that are there that launch the conversations.... It opens up the conversation. They can end up with some few things that are different. However, there's one thing: I'm not going to name the panel and I'm not going to tell them what to do.

Canadian Heritage committee  I invite you to tell them to go to the periodical fund, which they probably already know.

Canadian Heritage committee  It has to be about the news.