Evidence of meeting #33 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is there any further debate on the budget?
All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
The budget is adopted. Thank you very much.
We now have three notices of motion from members of the committee.
We're going to begin with the motion from Madame Lavallée.
Madame Lavallée, would you please move your motion and then speak to it?
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I will do so with great pleasure. As you know, there are currently agreements being negotiated, and it would be important for us, the Committee on Heritage, to be apprised of the status of those negotiations. For instance, as far as the free-trade agreement with the European Union goes, we must make absolutely certain that the terms of the treaty on cultural diversity that Canada promoted and signed will be upheld.
Therefore, I think it's extremely important to meet with the Minister of International Trade and his representatives so that they can update us on how the negotiations are going.
The same goes for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA. Negotiations surrounding this agreement have long been considered secret. According to the department's website, a draft version was released on October 2. I would like to understand the department's position on the issue.
It seems to me that if we could have a one-hour meeting on the free-trade agreement with the European Union—we could have other witnesses in attendance—and another one-hour meeting on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA, we could get a much better idea of the progress of the negotiations involved in these international agreements.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
It is uncommon for the heritage committee to look at trade agreements. However, these are trade agreements that do have issues in terms of culture and copyright as part of the framework agreements that are being negotiated. I think it is incumbent upon us to at least be brought up to speed, and also, if we have concerns, to raise them. Otherwise, when you're dealing with agriculture and you're dealing with all the industrial concerns that are being brought to bear on these trade agreements, culture might not be noticed. I think it would be a good study for us.
I would suggest that certainly we'd want to hear officials on ACTA and officials on the EU. I would suggest that maybe we have a couple of days of hearings, because I think there will be people who probably want to give us a perspective on them as well.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
The Conservative members will vote against it. This is a matter for international trade.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Well, I agree with Dean in that respect, but I will vote to support it, because I just want to know; there's a lot to do with cultural industries. We went through a lot in NAFTA. We still go through NAFTA. I think there's something to hear.
I'm not sure that Canadian Heritage is really the one that can provide the information, but I think we should get a trade representative--someone who's in the know--to come in here. We can have two days of hearings, if we wish.
I think it's a very interesting topic for us to discuss.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Seeing no further debate, I will call the question on Madame Lavallée's motion.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
We'll deal with that in the new year. We'll book some meetings in February, when we get back from the break.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I have not yet seen the agenda for December, but if we could deal with that by the end of December...
5 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Would it be possible to do it as soon as we come back in January?
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We can't do it in January because we're meeting only once, on Tuesday, January 31.
5 p.m.
Bloc
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We'll be here on Tuesday, January 31. So, we will hold the two meetings in February.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
So, the first meeting will be held in February. Okay.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We will hold the two meetings then.
The next motion under consideration is the notice of motion we have received from Mr. Angus.
Would you care to move it and speak to it?
5 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would be proud to move it.
I brought this forward because we are now less than a year to the deadline for the digital transition. There will be major changeover in terms of how Canadians are going to view this. Even if we decide to hold off the digital transition, it has major impacts, especially in rural regions. Is CBC ready? Is private television ready?
I think it's something we need to be looking at. It has been raised a number of times over the last two years while we've been doing various studies: where are we going to be with the digital transition?
We can look at the United States. They had a big rollout in advance of the transition. It would be good to hear from representatives of broadcast and also representatives from various stakeholders or people who are concerned with the broadcasting industry to make sure when the signal happens, we're not going to be leaving anybody in the dark.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I was thinking of between one and three days, depending on the interest we get. At this point, I think we need to hear from the major broadcasters--CBC, CTV--and then we have at least a day for some--
5 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Mr. Chair, we'll oppose it. Given the recent takeover of Global Television, for example, the CRTC has demonstrated that it's moving to deal with this in a fashion that's not going to impact or cost Canadians by requiring that Shaw provide free satellite, free connection, free hook-up, and free installation of all over-the-air networks. I think the CRTC has demonstrated it is moving forward with a plan so that there is no impact on Canadians, just as they said they would.