Canadian Heritage committee  This may not be answering the question, but I love the example of the BBC. If you have good stuff, people are going to go to it in the new media. If it's CBC-initiated stuff, it's available, and you get the right people in there who know how that whole thing works.... It's younger people who need to--

Canadian Heritage committee  Do you have any statistics...? In Manitoba it would be totally insignificant.

Canadian Heritage committee  But also, because we've just settled that part of the agreement in terms of the new media, I think any new media now is protected--

Canadian Heritage committee  Oh, okay.

Canadian Heritage committee  Just produced regionally, yes. I'll speak about radio. When I first came here, the radio drama component was very active. Now I think that room is used for other things at the CBC. But it was fabulous. They were commissioning theatre troupes. Primus Theatre was here for about ten years, and they produced many things for CBC radio.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. Primus is gone. When I first came in the early nineties, there seemed to be a convergence of artists coming to Manitoba. I look around and they're not here anymore. There are one or two, but it just no longer feels vibrant. It's a struggle.

Canadian Heritage committee  It seems that they're starting to do it in radio. There was a call for submissions, for people to come up with pitch ideas for radio. I know of several people who submitted a pitch that was later accepted by the CBC. It was amazing. They were invited in to assist on Definitely Not the Opera, given a tape recorder, shown how the equipment works, and then sent out, and they are now able to develop their radio program.

Canadian Heritage committee  Claude Dorge wants to say a few words.

Canadian Heritage committee  Okay, great.

Canadian Heritage committee  Okay. I don't think we will.

Canadian Heritage committee  This is Rob Macklin, who is our branch representative for ACTRA; Rea Kavanagh, the vice-president; and Claude Dorge, who is our lovely secretary. I'm Sharon Bajer. I'm the president of ACTRA, Manitoba branch. First of all, I want to welcome the committee to Manitoba and thank you for inviting me to speak on behalf of ACTRA Manitoba.