Evidence of meeting #24 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 fund.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
Are you talking about paperwork for the producers or for us at the fund?
5 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Both. In other words, for the producers, someone isn't going to be able to come in on their own time and spend a full day doing the necessary paperwork. That wouldn't be expected, and naturally they should be compensated for it.
I'm always concerned about any of these programs making sure of the most effective use of people's time. If they're producing something, they should be involved in functions specifically related to getting something on a screen.
5 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
You've opened up a real can of worms.
5 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
If you spoke to a producer here today, if there was a producer appearing in front of you, I'm sure they would say it's too much paperwork—and it's not just our fund, it's every fund in Canada. We've gotten to this position because of the accountability that has been imposed on us. But I also have to say that the money we give away comes from contributions. It's free money, so we're not just going to throw it out the window and say to pick it up and go forth. There has to be some kind of organization, an application made, and some thought given to it, because we take our job seriously. Where do you draw the line? I don't know. We'd have to have a producer in the room and debate that.
Because we're the administrators, we feel there's some accountability. There may be a little bit too much lately for a small fund such as ours. I'm the only employee right now. I find it very difficult to keep up with all of the paperwork we have, and I don't think I'm alone. A lot of the charitable organizations–You've had this blue panel committee. I don't know what their outcome will be, but you're probably very aware of all of those issues. So I don't know how to come out on that one.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
The basis of my question is not directly related to Heritage; it's related to this whole issue of accountability.
A couple of years ago, on my own time and expense--I want that on the record--I was in Tanzania visiting a couple of NGOs. I was at the Canadian embassy and we were talking about the CIDA programs and other aid and assistance programs that were coming from the Canadian taxpayer. We were talking about the accountability issue.
I was shocked when it was reported to me that upwards of 40¢ of every aid dollar was consumed, one way or the other, in a reporting function. That is just absolutely obscene, because NGOs can do administration, overhead, and advertising for under 10¢ on the dollar. So that's the basis of my question.
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
If you're talking about...again, I'm not sure. Our administration budget on $1.55 million is $310,000. I don't know if you think that's a lot or not.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Are there some efficiencies that could be created? Can you see some way that we could maintain full accountability? That is number one. But in maintaining full accountability, do you have some suggestions for ways that the reporting could be more streamlined, whether by using a different computer program, a different format, or anything like that?
If you don't have an answer for us this second but want to provide something, that would be very useful, because everybody at this table wants to get full value for the dollar.
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
I don't have an answer for you. Even if I think about it, I'm not sure if I would have one, but I'm willing to think about it. There are many issues there.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you very much.
We're talking about a contribution agreement. It seems to me we are talking about two contribution agreements. One is from the federal government, and one is through industry, mandated by the CRTC, whether they give it to you directly or have to make in-house commitments to Canadian broadcasts.
You talked about ambulance chasing. Were you concerned about siren sounds from the CAB presentation in Vancouver recently? There's widespread speculation that the broadcasters are saying, “Give us a level playing field. Let's cut the obligations of the CRTC to do this, and let's put all the producers out to fund it themselves.” Are you concerned about that?
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
Yes, I'm very concerned about it. If we want to have Canadian culture and Canadians speaking to each other, rallying around some of the issues we've made reference to, I don't see how they can do it. The broadcaster is really king, queen, whatever, right now, and I don't see how projects are going to get made in this country without the participation of broadcasters.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
So Star Choice drops from $800,000 to $100,000. When they were giving you that other $700,000 we could see how it was being spent and the value of it. Do you know what is being done with that money in any production they're doing--how they're spending it?
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
I don't know. I believe the small-market recipients are to report to the CAB, but I've never seen any of the reports. I haven't had the time to follow up, so I can't answer your question. I don't know.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
There's widespread speculation right now because of the CRTC review. Minister Bernier has obviously sent clear signals that he wants a hands-off approach, a market-driven approach. It seems fairly socialistic, don't you think, that we would ask the big broadcasters to actually pay into Canadian content. Is there some concern being discussed right now about decisions that could have a serious impact on funds like yours?
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
Of course there is. I guess I sound prejudiced, so it's a conflict of interest for me to say that. It sounds like I'm protecting my own job.
I think it's a big issue for the producers in this country. Again it comes back to whether one wants Canadian culture. I'm not talking about culture in just an elitist sense, but the kinds of examples we've been referring to today. I think that's culture. That's what makes us a nation and keeps us together, in a way. That probably sounds grandiose, but it's important. We're talking about Canadians who are able to find solutions and express themselves on certain subjects. I think that's really vital. That's kind of the glue among us all.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Is it normal for your fund not to be renewed by this time of the year?
5:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
I can't answer that. This is the first time we've had a contribution agreement with the government, so I don't know the answer to that.
I think they're kind of busy right now. But I don't know whether or not this is a normal timing problem.
5:10 p.m.
Co-Chair, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
There's no precedent, so we can't judge it.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
5:10 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
We've had this contribution agreement since 2000, so it's gone on for six years.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
At what point does it start becoming problematic, if it's not renewed, in terms of planning future projects?
5:10 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
As I said, I'm the only person in the office. I've had to let everybody go--“everybody” is one other person. We have four people at deadline dates. We have two people for the rest of the year.
We have a small reserve fund because of good management. The money came from managing other funds where we had administrative fees. We have harboured that money and invested it. It's what we're living on right now.
We can do that for a few more months, but I would say that if we don't get any indication, we'll probably have to close down. We can't go on indefinitely because we don't have a large reserve fund.
