Canadian Heritage committee  I'll try to do it in reverse order, if I may. Quickly, on the first, the question is well placed and heard. I would expect that the BPF is likely to follow whatever practice the commission establishes. That's what they did in generally approaching cost awards after they were set

Canadian Heritage committee  I would just warn you that we have a few traditional players who like to feud with one another. Some can be quite protractive. We will look and see if we can give you some constructive numbers.

Canadian Heritage committee  On the first one, I can't speak to a matter that's in front of us in that way. I will just reiterate what I said: We have services that are tariffed that we have control over—

Canadian Heritage committee  It's not that simple.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Chair.

Canadian Heritage committee  That is a possibility, but I cannot as an individual, chair or not, commit the commission to any decision. That would be a matter to be taken up by the eight sitting members.

Canadian Heritage committee  Rachelle, would you like to add...? I can tell you that we have had a discussion. I honestly cannot say any more.

Canadian Heritage committee  I agree with the statement. No one is guaranteed cost or standing in our proceedings. I think the commission will render decisions at that time on whether their participation is appropriate. You can guess what my personal opinion might be about it.

Canadian Heritage committee  Very quickly, we don't know what the numbers are. With respect, we haven't seen the final text of the legislation and we haven't established either the exemption criteria or other qualifications. We simply don't know what those monetary amounts are or will be.

Canadian Heritage committee  The information you cited is correct, but I do chafe a little bit at your use of the word “funding”, because we give cost awards. I want to explain very quickly that you are correct in saying that the process was different, and there was a reason for that. It was not only CMAC.

Canadian Heritage committee  We have no public hearing involving a cost award at the moment, and staff have been instructed to look at this and to assess our approach.

Canadian Heritage committee  First of all, I must say that this is a matter that's currently in front of the commission, so I'm very limited in how I can respond. The parties made an application to allow them to add that charge to their tariff services where we oversee their rates. They also have forborne s

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. I was anticipating somebody saying, “What are you doing here? I thought you were done in September”, but I'm back. I'm a little bit like the common cold in the autumn. It's hard to get rid of me. I am not involved in the process. I'm often invited to sit on the pan

Canadian Heritage committee  First of all I should note that the fund the CRTC established to support small news players excludes the vertically integrated players, so they're not eligible to take money from that fund. I think the focus of the legislation—again maybe this should be directed to the minister—

Canadian Heritage committee  I share your characterization of the current situation. You may have seen our public statement that was released last week. To the specifics, the amounts that you cited, as I said on the record a moment ago, are those that we gave. I don't have the precise number in front of me