Canadian Heritage committee  It's not a tax.

Canadian Heritage committee  Is that a question, Mr. Del Mastro?

Canadian Heritage committee  Okay. Just to be clear, Mr. Del Mastro, the proposal is for the levy to extend to digital audio recording devices, that is to say, iPods and MP3 players, not—

Canadian Heritage committee  They could, yes indeed, but that's not why consumers buy them. They buy them to copy music.

Canadian Heritage committee  We're not proposing a levy on your calendar, Mr. Del Mastro.

Canadian Heritage committee  The audio recording devices--

Canadian Heritage committee  We're not looking for handouts. We're just looking for the opportunity for consumers, business, and artists all to share in the digital media industry. That's what we're here to talk to you about, Mr. Del Mastro.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'd be happy to meet with you, Mr. Del Mastro, at any time, as we've done before.

Canadian Heritage committee  --artists' pockets.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's correct.

Canadian Heritage committee  As I said before, I'm surprised by the minister's position and by the government's position on this levy.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Angus, that's an excellent question. I don't know. I really don't understand why our minister, the minister who should, as you say, be defending artists in this country, is attacking them and proposing to take money out of--

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't understand the thinking on this at all, Mr. Angus. It's quite clear that we see this levy and other forms of collective licensing as the way forward. It's not only the way forward for artists. It's the way forward for record companies. It's the way forward for film and te

Canadian Heritage committee  That's correct.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you.