Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 30th, 2023

[Thomas Owen Ripley, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage]

The only thing I might add is that CBC/Radio-Canada is unique in that it has a mandate prescribed in legislation, and that includes reflecting Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences and serving the special needs of those regions. That is why you see, when CBC/Radio-Canada comes in and is licensed by the CRTC, there are special conditions of licence ensuring that they meet the needs of those communities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you. I think that's it.

Before I go to Mr. Lemire and Peter, I just wanted to say that we started this committee at 25 after, so we can go to 25 after in this room. I just wanted to get a sense of the committee. Do you want to do that, or do you just want to finish this round?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I would love to do it, but I can't because 10:15 is my next meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You can't, okay, so we will just finish this round then.

Mr. Lemire, you have two and a half minutes, please.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Mondou, I'd like to begin by thanking you for joining us.

I'd like to talk a little about sport. The Fédération internationale de football association, or FIFA, is organizing the upcoming World Cup. As I understand it, over 20 departments are involved in the preparations for some 10 soccer games in two different cities.

What is the initial amount that the government, in particular your department, is investing in this event? Also, have you done an estimate of the related expenditures?

According to a recent article, the City of Toronto estimates that costs have risen significantly.

[Isabelle Mondou]

I can tell you that 40 departments are involved in this effort. In addition, we are in the process of doing a cost estimate. We are not doing it alone. The costs to provinces and municipalities must also be factored in, because the government is matching the expenditures incurred by the provinces and municipalities.

We've reached the final stage. We have not yet obtained data for British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the City of Toronto or the Government of Ontario. We should have data to report between January and June.

However, we're still waiting for some essential information to be provided. FIFA is expected to confirm in December how many matches will take place in Canada. We expect 10 to 14 matches, but FIFA has yet to confirm in which cities they will take place. This will obviously have an impact on costs.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

What mechanisms are in place to monitor the money being spent, which is public money, on such events?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Madam Chair, I'd like to thank the member for his question. There are a number of things to mention.

Every part of our estimate is cross-checked by an independent auditor. That means we have a firm that checks our calculations, in addition to the finance departments of the provinces involved and the federal finance department.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

This past May 11, as you know, Minister St-Onge held a press conference. She committed to launching a national public inquiry into health and safety in sport.

Were you given a mandate to set up such an inquiry?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Throughout the year, we worked with Minister St-Onge to develop such an inquiry. I'll let Minister Qualtrough explain to you very shortly, at her next appearance, what she intends to do about this inquiry.

We also continued working on the announcements made by Minister St-Onge in May. They consist of governance reforms that this committee and another had called for in terms of codes of conduct and auditing.

In a previous consultation, Mr. Julian raised the issue of the lack of mechanisms to independently verify information. We now have a team in place to ensure that we have information that comes not only from players and organizations, but also from other sources, including stakeholders and athletes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

What I understand is that you've been given the mandate to organize such an inquiry.

Am I to understand that this mandate is still active?

[Isabelle Mondou]

You'd be correct in understanding that we worked very closely with Minister St-Onge on the matter and will continue to work with Minister Qualtrough.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand the nuances of what you've just said.

I understand what you mean for Ms. St-Onge, but is that mandate still in effect, right now?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Ms. Qualtrough has just received her mandate letter. I'd really like to let her be the first to talk to you about her mandate.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

These items are not clearly set out in the mandate letter. We'll have a chance to question her shortly. She may be coming on December 12. Can you confirm this?

[Isabelle Mondou]

That was my understanding.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Perfect.

As for what's next, a problematic situation is emerging in sport, linked to the whole issue of the independence of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. How is this situation developing?

As far as the responsibilities of the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity are concerned, some people are making proposals, while others seem to be hiding behind the various bodies. In a way, it's extremely shocking.

Have you helped improve transparency between these bodies so far?

What steps have you taken to improve their accountability to you?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Initially, the two bodies had to focus on setting up their offices. I think that is a significant point. Today, both offices are able to produce regular reports on the progress of their work.

Naturally, you've also started to see the investigations that arise from their work. Transparency will come from these investigations. The May announcement also included a commitment that the offices would set up a public registry of people who have been sanctioned, and they are working on that matter. I believe all those factors will contribute to greater transparency.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

This past November 16, we heard about a situation involving former Olympic kayaker Angus Mortimer. How did you receive that information? What steps have you taken to investigate the situation and, above all, to ensure that such conduct never happens again?

What steps have you taken?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Lemire, I'm sorry. You've gone well over time. I think I've been asleep at the switch.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I've only used five minutes and 50 seconds, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, you only had two and a half minutes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

We're in the first round of questions.

I'm sorry.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I have a point of order.

When we have new witnesses, which is the case, we start over with the first round, which lasts six minutes each.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Not really, but go ahead then. Go ahead. Finish your five minutes. Given that we're not going to stay until the end, go ahead. Finish your five minutes.