Canadian Heritage Committee on Dec. 11th, 2006

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I wonder if this as solid as the last time we had a statement that members would not be sitting here if we had audiences or hearings on the court challenges program.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Kotto, please go ahead.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Bélanger has moved an amendment to the motion, but no one asked me my opinion on that. Nevertheless, I will give it to you. I agree with his amendment 100%.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Go ahead.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

That is all I wanted to say.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Angus, have you completed your other one?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I'm—

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Is this adopted?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

On the friendly amendment, I would call for a vote, then—

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

I would ask for a recorded vote, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Do you mean you would like a recorded vote?

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Please.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It would be on the motion as amended. It's a friendly amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

I won't read the whole thing. The last paragraph of the friendly amendment now reads:

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government, as a matter of urgency, allocate an adequate recurring amount to the Feature Film Fund, as called for by the industry; and that the Chair report to the House.

This is a recorded vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Angus, are you going to read your friendly amendment into the record?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Yes. My friendly amendment--as opposed to friendly fire--reads that:

Whereas it should be possible to develop film production everywhere;

Whereas all the decision-making for the television industry in Quebec is centred in Montréal and a similar situation exists in other regions of Canada;

--and I'm not sure if we should go with the next line or not, since the previous line has already dealt with it--

Whereas there is a shortage of regional development;

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, as a matter of urgency, advise the government of the need to develop a strategy that would provide adequate measures to stimulate regional production outside the large urban centres, including looking at the use of enhanced tax credits for film production outside the urban centres.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Are you okay with that, Mr. Kotto?

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

We'll vote on the amended motion.

Do you want another recorded vote?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Now we'll go to motion two, that:

Whereas Telefilm Canada must react more quickly to the new realities of the new media market;

Whereas the growth of the Canada New Media Fund is crucial for the future of Canadian content in this field;

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government, as a matter of urgency, provide adequate financial support in this sector, in an effort to see it attain its full potential, and also take adequate legislative measures to allow Telefilm Canada to operate with more flexibility; and that the Chair report to the House.

You've heard the motion. Any dialogue?

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Now we'll move to motion four.

Mr. Kotto.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bélanger has suggested that representatives from the Court Challenges Program appear next Wednesday. This motion could wait until then, and in the meantime, we could debate the motion about inviting these individuals to appear before the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Unless we have unanimous consent to bring this motion forward—the motion was just put forward today—I suggest we deal with it on Wednesday. It's almost 6 o'clock now.

We already have our witnesses for our Wednesday meeting, and provided that the House is still sitting on Wednesday, we will have those witnesses here.