It all started with CBC North, Mr. Speaker. With the loss of staff on this scale, it will be impossible for CBC to continue to broadcast with the high quality we have come to expect. It will become impossible to hire and keep the dedicated and talented native language speaking staff and it will become impossible to keep local radio transmitters on the air.
Today CBC North operates production centres for 4 communities in the Northwest Territories. It maintains and operates 31 transmitters. It is now being asked to maintain an additional 28 transmitters, which our government can no longer afford to take care of. The organization is already cut below the effective size. This government must do something more than state the danger of these cuts. It must make innovative suggestions that can be used to preserve this essential service. I hope that this government can find a time and willingness to make some concrete suggestions to the President of CBC and the minister responsible for CBC, the Hon. Sheila Copps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.