Evidence of meeting #20 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I haven't been to a protest with Charlie. Perhaps I should go.
So if I wanted to go and see it, I'd have to make an appointment?
4:30 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes, make an appointment.
4:30 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
If you go anywhere, if you go to Foreign Affairs, since 9/11 it has not been easy to get into our government departments anymore. That's why appointments are needed.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
So if it weren't in a government department, it could be more accessible.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes, it would be shown.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
That's an interesting concept.
You have an acquisition budget of $160,000. Is that over two years?
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Every two years. We're about to put one out in January, which means we give the artists six months to put in a submission. We then try to do the jury in a matter of two to three months. It takes about six to eight months for an acquisition jury.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I saw somewhere that you had made acquisitions for some $80,000. When was that?
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Just recently, yes. That was for 2005-06, and the results of those acquisitions are on our Internet site.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Every two years. Because our budgets are limited and because of staff, this year we've been putting our money into maintaining the collection: getting it framed and conserved, making sure it's in good shape, doing inventories. Next year we'll do the art acquisition.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
So you're using part of the acquisition budget to do maintenance on the collection?
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I have to. It's operational money. We also have the consent of the artists for that, because they're very concerned about the condition of the collection.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Yet I got the impression awhile ago that it was quite okay.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It is okay, but they want to make sure we make it stay in that standard. You need to put work into a public collection.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I am aware of that. I've been on this committee on and off for 10 years.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Your questions, if I can say, are very similar to questions that have been brought to me over the last year by a former employee who has been very inquisitive about the way we do business and the way the collection is kept. I'm wondering if this has any connection with your questions.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I don't know. I don't know who your former employees are, madame.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
They're the exact same questions.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I'm getting a sense of being accused here of asking questions. That's my duty as a parliamentarian.
4:35 p.m.
Manager, Indian and Inuit Art Centres, Corporate Services Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I know, but--
