Human Resources committee  The internship program is terrific. It is aimed at youth up to 29, and it fulfills a very important function. I think that it would be useful for the government--if it can, given jurisdictional issues--to support mentorships or something that would allow for this to happen for older workers.

Human Resources committee  It's one percent of their revenues.

Human Resources committee  We certainly felt a part of it and were involved in the discussions. The Canadian Conference of the Arts was the voice for the cultural sector in those discussions and around those tables. We were natural partners in that discussion.

Human Resources committee  Another way to think about compensation is the benefits that are available to workers. In our sector, I've mentioned that social benefits aren't available to the large number of self-employed. That's also true about the child care sector. So when they go to call centres, maybe they don't only get increased incomes, but they also get benefits, and that's a huge issue.

Human Resources committee  Our sector is certainly feeling the effects of the recent cuts in a number of different ways. We have a lot of not-for-profit organizations in the sector. They feel the impact of some of those cuts. The museums assistance programs specifically is one. I am not sure if you're asking for specifics, but that's an example of one.

Human Resources committee  Mr. Martin, to come at that from another angle, career awareness materials are incredibly important. You have your young group of graduating students, and they should be aware of what the great job potentials are all across the country. It's something that as sector councils we have all been doing in our own areas.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. members, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to speak to you today on behalf of the artists and cultural workers in Canada, as executive director of the Cultural Human Resources Council—that's CHRC. I'll just point out that Jennifer actually has a very good acronym with “CARS”.