Evidence of meeting #28 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
The motion carries. We will table that motion and put it on the agenda somewhere behind the other three or four we already have.
We come to planning our future business.
Mr. Malo.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
The part of the meeting dealing with future business will not be held in camera, Mr. Chairman?
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Are we never going in camera for the future business of the committee?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Mr. Chair, we spoke with the clerk in advance of the meeting. I understand that the delegation having to do with our Expo exhibit is not available to appear. We might be able to speed things up if we could just agree to expedite the study on Radio 2 that Mr. Siksay has brought forward. It's time-sensitive. After that, we can do what we can to organize witnesses on that study.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Chairman, to answer the question you asked last week about the Internet, I would suggest that we hear from the CRTC first, to get their views, to see what they have done since 2000 and what the complaints are.
I read a CRTC report that said they are unable to control the Internet and do not have sufficient resources for that. This report goes back to 2000 or 2001. Maybe things have changed or evolved since then. Before hearing from other witnesses, it might be appropriate to meet with representatives of the CRTC to see where things are and what they are doing. Maybe they are doing things that we do not know about. Then we would be in a position to decide how many witnesses we want to have on the subject of the Internet. So that would be my proposal.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Okay.
We also have another motion regarding the CRTC. I look for guidance from people around the table.
Mr. Siksay.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
It makes sense to invite the CRTC to appear on both issues on our agenda—the administrative penalties and the Internet—get them to present at one meeting, and have our rounds. As Madam Mourani has suggested, this may give us a sense of where we need to go in the fall on the Internet question. We would get a better sense of where we need to go on both issues, frankly. I think we could be doing the work on the CBC study that we've agreed to undertake.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Anyone else?
I don't have a problem with that. Our biggest thing is that the clerk has to make sure she can have representation from the CRTC. We'll instruct our clerk to see if she can get the CRTC here for next Tuesday. If not, we'll try for next Thursday. I think we have to give them at least two dates. We'll see if we can't get them here next week to talk about these things. This can go forward as we move down the line. We will do it.
Now we can move on to future business beyond those issues. They will require just one meeting, to find out where we're going. It will either be on Tuesday or Thursday of next week. We don't have to have the CRTC here in consecutive times.
Mr. Siksay.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
I didn't understand Mr. Del Mastro's intervention about the folks from Expo 2010. Are they not available at all, or are they just not available—
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
My understanding is that they're not available now. They're out of the country. Some are involved with things like Cirque du Soleil. This isn't a particularly good time of year for them. But I would like to try to get them in the fall, so we can hear what they're planning.
It's not my understanding that they'll be available immediately. But we can put in a request for possible dates and look to schedule them.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Does that answer your question?
Okay, then we'll move forward. The next part of business is Mr. Siksay's motion that we went through the other day, and how we are going to approach our meetings on Radio 2 and the Vancouver orchestra.
Our clerk has been hard at work coming up with scenarios on how we can go forward. It's my understanding that we would call witnesses to Ottawa. At the same time, I've heard from various other members that we should be travelling. I think the motion the other day said we weren't going to travel to Vancouver, or at least not to Vancouver alone. Do we have that motion in front of us? I don't think “alone” was in there. I think it was to be one meeting held in Vancouver.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
When Mr. Coderre proposed taking out that phrase, I think it was because he didn't want to discuss the travel at that moment. He thought we could consider travel at a later moment, which seems to have arrived. I don't think the implication was that we shouldn't travel to Vancouver or somewhere else.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
I'm going to read the amended motion:
That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage hold hearings prior to the summer recess on the decision by CBC/Radio Canada to disband the CBC Radio Orchestra, on CBC/Radio Canada’s commitment to classical music, and on the changes to CBC Radio 2.
So it doesn't say specifically. It's just what was removed from your original motion.
Mr. Abbott.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
I'd like to make some suggestions about what we need to deal with at this moment, but prior to making those suggestions, I want to restate that this exercise is going to create an additional platform for listeners of CBC Radio 2 who are interested in this issue. This may be a desirable thing to do. I'm not commenting on its desirability or lack thereof. However, part of the value of these hearings would be to create another platform. I think we've heard this clearly enunciated in the testimony. We had the executives of the CBC come before committee, and they were very fulsome in their answers and what they were about.
We exhausted our questions, if I recall. Bear in mind that the CBC has absolute independence in their decisions on programming. As long as committee members are aware that this is going to be nothing more than an exercise in giving the CBC audience a platform, then we can be making decisions about the advisability of putting out tens of thousands of dollars to travel and take up the committee's time.
My motion, which also passed, was something within the purview of this committee. The minister specifically asked this committee for advice on coming forward with administrative monetary penalties. This is something that is desirable. It would actually make a difference in the lives of viewers of television. If it's the desire of this committee to create this platform so people can vent, that's just fine. What we need to do—
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
We're re-debating the debate we had. We're doing it over again. We've already made the decision to go ahead.
If Mr. Abbott was making suggestions about who should be appearing before us, he'd be in order. But he seems to be wanting to go back and rehash the debate we had the other day. I'm not sure that's appropriate without a motion to reconsider. But he hasn't done that.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
I thank you. I will get to my points.
First, we need to decide on travel. Secondly, we need to have the clerk prepare a draft budget. Thirdly, the committee needs to approve a draft budget. Fourth, the chair needs to present the proposal to the Liaison Committee.
The next Liaison Committee meeting is at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. Even if the heritage committee approves the budget proposal in time, it's doubtful that the Liaison Committee will approve travel when the Broadcasting Act prevents the heritage committee from issuing directives to the CBC. That was my point.