Industry Committee on May 30th, 2007

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Leclaire, I just have a question on the issue for your automotive industry in Canada as to the varying fuel standards that exist both in the United States and potentially within Canada. How difficult is it for the automotive industry to be able to make those kinds of adjustments that we're seeing, state by state, perhaps even in the future, here in Canada?

[Guy Leclaire]

Right now, there's basically a harmonized standard across North America....

Are you talking about fuel consumption standards, sir?

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

No, fuel standards.

[Guy Leclaire]

That's the responsibility of Natural Resources Canada. But varying fuel standards do cause some difficulty with different technologies, including catalytic converters in vehicles. So having a national fuel standard, and even an international fuel standard, clearly is a target that the auto industry would like to have.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I just want to clarify that for you, just to make sure.... We're concerned as a committee. I think some of us have expressed this before. The automotive industry in various ways is making real adjustments in trying to get to the bottom of better, more environmental standards in vehicles. The oil industry, the gasoline industry, isn't necessarily doing the same. I'm just wondering how troubling you find that or take that under advice in terms of how we're seeing this.

Mr. Chair, thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay, thank you.

We'll go to Monsieur Arthur for the final question.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Good afternoon, Madame McKenzie. It's a pleasure to see you here.

What exactly is the relationship between the CTC and the Canadian exhibit at the Epcot Center, at Disney World?

[Michele McKenzie]

Walt Disney World owns Epcot Center and they own a number of pavilions at Epcot Centre, one of which portrays Canada. That pavilion includes a film of Canada that is quite dated. The CTC has been lobbying Walt Disney World to update their film on Canada for some time.

Recently--within the last year--we entered a marketing partnership with Walt Disney World for the update of that film. We did that in conjunction with other destination partners from across the country. So we basically led a discussion that brought cities and provinces to the table to partner an updated film, which will be released in the Canada pavilion this year.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

When you say “dated”, how dated is it? How much do you feel this could be bringing us close to negative advertising?

[Michele McKenzie]

We had a lot of feedback from Canadians who felt it was so dated that it was negative. In fact, that was why we worked very hard to convince Disney that it needed to be updated. Disney was quite happy with the film as it was. The only complaints they say they received were primarily from Canadians. However, ultimately, they did decide that it was worth updating the film, and we were happy to give them advice on how Canada could be portrayed more accurately.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

What participation will you be having in the making of that film? What will be your responsibility in the making of that film? Will you supervise, will you improvise, will you give them ideas? Will you do something?

[Michele McKenzie]

We have the official responsibility to influence as much as possible. Walt Disney World will not give us creative control of their film. It's their film, and they have creative control of everything that happens at Epcot Center and in every Disney location. So they would not give us that, but they were very happy to work with us. We presented them with Canada's new tourism brand. They liked it a lot, and they were able to fully incorporate that into the creative concept for the new film. So we're very happy.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

At this time the only thing that's not dated around there is the beaver tails. This you can buy at the door, but the film is horrible. You see that and you cringe--

[Michele McKenzie]

We absolutely agree, which is why we have been anxious to have this project finished.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

When do you expect the new production to be there?

[Michele McKenzie]

The new production will be going into the theatre this summer. They haven't given us a final date, but it will be during the summer months. There will be an official event to launch the film in the early fall.

[André Arthur, Independent, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you very much to all of you for coming in today. We're sorry about the extended time because of the vote and the extension of the minister's time, but we appreciate your time here, as we always do at estimates time.

Members, we'll suspend for a couple of minutes and then discuss the two motions.

Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]