There are two cases before the courts. Correct?
Evidence of meeting #3 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 mandate.
Evidence of meeting #3 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 mandate.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I have a point of clarification. Are we talking about putting together these witnesses to come before us to talk solely about the selection criteria of these particular festivals--and no festival in particular, just the selection criteria?
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
The selection criteria in place led to Spectra being chosen over the Festival du nouveau cinéma, or FNC. According to information made public months after the fact, it was discovered that the FNC had actually won the competition. The rules of the game were changed in mid-course to give the advantage to Spectra. However, the FFM is not involved in...
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
A little order here, just for one second. We have about three people talking here right now. I apologize, I interrupted.
Mr. Bélanger, you can finish.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I should indicate there is absolutely no relation whatsoever between Charles Bélanger and Mauril Bélanger, in case there's any doubt.
4:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
This is the document we've received. You can read between the lines, so to speak.
Mr. Kotto, I am somewhat concerned that the Telefilm Canada report we received appears to show—at least that's what we've been told—that some of the information was deleted from the report because of the cases before the courts. If that's not the case, I'd like an opinion...I don't have a problem inviting persons to testify before the committee. I don't care if it's 2004 or 2006. We'll continue to do our job. However, I especially do not want us to fall into the sub judice trap.
Before I venture an opinion on the subject, personally, I would prefer to get a formal opinion as to whether or not, by adopting your motion, we would be violating the sub judice rule with respect to cases before the courts. If we are not, then I have no problem backing the motion. However, if there is a problem, I would agree with Mr. Abbott that we should wait.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Mr. Kotto, and then I'm going to have a little statement to make here too.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
On the one hand, based on the information we have, there is no case pending. However, I understand full well your position. We can amend the motion, with the understanding that we will receive an opinion. That is possible. We can also ask the witnesses to refrain from discussing certain matters. However, it would surprise me very much. I've been following this matter since the very beginning in Montreal. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the events that have transpired. For those of you who are, you know that the FNC has not filed charges against Telefilm over the selection process. Nor has Spectra.
Had charges been filed, there would not have been a report on SODEC's role in this affair. Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communication announced these measures further to the recommendations that flowed from the inquiry. An inquiry was in fact conducted precisely because the matter could be publicly discussed.
This matter is in the hands of Telefilm Canada, because the agency comes under federal jurisdiction. An inquiry was conducted in Quebec. I don't see why the federal government couldn't also conduct an inquiry into a Crown corporation, specifically Telefilm Canada.
Again, Telefilm Canada representatives were unable to testify before the committee during the 38th parliament because two cases were pending before the courts. To my knowledge, there is no reason why we can't have them here and ask them to explain the selection process and what led them to choose Spectra rather than the FNC.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Could I make a suggestion here, since we're not quite clear on whether there's litigation going on in these particular cases, that we ask the clerk to clarify, to see if there is any litigation? Could we request an opinion that this motion could be dealt with by this committee?
That would be my suggestion, that we defer the motion until we have clarification on this issue. Could I get consensus around the table? Would that be fine? We'd ask the clerk to get clarification, and once we have that clarification, we'd bring the motion back.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Chairman, I see that you're trying to find a basis for agreement. That's good, but as I see it, time is a problem. I don't mean the time it takes to dispense with the motion, but the time remaining in order for Montreal to stage a festival. That's my first point.
Secondly, I have a problem with the fact that any bids forthcoming from Telefilm Canada would not be discussed again by this committee. No one but us can publicly debate this question. Let me say again that the Government of Quebec did its job where SODEC was concerned. We must do the same, in order to operate in a completely open and transparent manner.
Now then, if we agree to get an opinion that we either allow us to go forward, or prevent that from happening, then we need to move quickly, as summer is fast approaching.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Okay, the law clerk will be contacted tomorrow to provide an opinion. That would be my suggestion, that we do this. If not, we can vote on it now and we can let things go.
Is it the consensus around the table that we ask the law clerk to look into the motion?
Thank you.
Yes, Mr. Malo.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
I know we decided not to have a meeting this Thursday, since the Australian Prime Minister is scheduled to make a speech in the House. However, if the clerk could get this information to us quickly, perhaps we could meet for 30 minutes or one hour on Thursday, after the Australian Prime Minister's address.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Chairman, as a compromise solution, could we have an opinion sent to our office as quickly as possibly, possibly by Thursday?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Yes. And it'll be my suggestion that at the next meeting convened.... The witness was supposed to be here today; we were only going to have an hour and a half. We could make sure that at that particular meeting we set up to deal with your motion.
Motion 4 is withdrawn.
Meeting adjourned?
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Some hon. members
No.
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Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chairman, I think there's a motion before us with attachments about a budget for travel. May I comment on the budget for travel first?
My understanding is that if we go, this would be for three days, which is the 11th, 12th, and 13th, so you need half of the hotel accommodations and you need half of the per diem. So already you've reduced this substantially. I would argue that if indeed there is a benefit for us to be there, there is also benefit for the participants of the festival, and that we should not be paying any conference registration fee. If the festival is not prepared to accept those conditions, then too bad. Finally, I suspect that if you look around for some cheaper airfares than $2,400, you'd be able to find them.
So I submit to you that this budget of $98,000 can be reduced by half fairly easily.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
I have a couple of things.
First, I haven't had a chance to review the budget that closely, but I understand there are translators going, etc.