No.
Evidence of meeting #16 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 museums.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #16 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 museums.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all three of you for giving us your time this afternoon.
The first thing I'd like to do is refer you to this report that was prepared in 2005 by Lord Planning & Management. I refer you to page 51, which Mr. Abbott referred you to earlier. I'm looking at table 7.1, which is the budget forecast. In 2005 you were forecasting into the future, and at that time you were forecasting that you would require approximately $3.6 million per year from all levels of government. Is that correct?
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Yes.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Since that time, of course, you would have financial statements that show your performance in the year 2004-05. How much government assistance did you receive in total--as a percentage first of all, and then in total dollar amounts?
Director General, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Currently, our budget is $2 million, part of which is devoted to capitalization and amortization. If we exclude amortization, our budget is approximately $1.7 million. We receive between $700,000 and $900,000 in funding of all kinds, namely for student jobs. This is not necessarily recurrent funding for operations. It is for all kinds of programs, activities, or departments. The rest is generated by the corporation, and represents approximately 50% of the budget.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Okay. And you'd like to see that support go from the current $700,000 to about $3.6 million per year. Is that correct?
Director General, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
We would like our operating budget to be approximately $4 million, an amount that experts consider conservative but realistic for a not-for-profit institution like ours. Our budget is not that of a government museum, as we have activities or resources that are not at the same level.
Given that our current revenues are insufficient and that our fixed costs are very high, many parts of our mission have been reduced to a minimum.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Yes, I understand, but just looking at that table, it does appear that you're asking for total government support from all levels of about $3.6 million per year. Is that correct?
The bottom line says “required government support”—and I presume it would be annual—“3.684”, the next year is “3.661”, and on it goes. Is that correct?
Daniel Laurendeau Secretary, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Well, if I may, that does include our entrance fees and the money generated by our institutions, so it's not totally funded.
Director General, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
It is approximately $700,000.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
There appears to be a little bit of confusion. Perhaps I could be more specific.
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Sorry, but I think I can answer your question. Let me put it in general terms
When this was made up, the experts said it was going to cost around $4 million a year in operating expenses to run it. How do we divide that up? We will generate approximately $1 million a year from the gate receipts, from the people coming and going.
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Yes, 25%. And then the other three levels of government—municipal, provincial, and federal—throw in 25% each. That was the way it was conceived, and that's what you have here. It's $3.6 million divided by three, which is $1.2 million each. I'm giving you round figures here, but this is where your partnership comes from. You're ending up with an equal partnership, with 25% from each level of government, plus the private sector.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
All right.
Just as one follow-up question, how much of your current government funding comes from the federal government?
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
On the operating side, zero.
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
Zero.
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
I said “operating”.
President, Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum, Canadian Railroad Historical Association
That depends on the year.
