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.
4:50 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
As you know, the CRTC is having a television review right now. We made a submission in that vein, that we wanted to see program expenditures put back in and that tangible benefits packages should go outside and not be controlled by companies.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
What's the danger, do you think, in terms of having these companies? Is there any danger?
In terms of the larger picture, from what I'm hearing there is the same amount of money going into the industry, so that's good news. It's not as bad as we would have thought otherwise, without having these answers.
But I'm just wondering, is there some aspect of the current system that you think is a real negative with their having the control over the production and the funding?
4:50 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
As I said, I would like to see that money go out to independent production funds, because then we'd have more of a chance to get private sector moneys. Right now, that's pretty well dried up. It's very difficult for us.
November 22nd, 2006 / 4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Madam Jackson, how are you doing?
4:55 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
Thank you. I'm very well.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I remember, and this dates me, Mr. Chairman, that back in 1999 we were discussing the ambulance-chasing habit of Ms. Jackson and how to solve it, and we found it by having a contribution agreement at the time.
My first question would be to solicit information from the government, through Mr. Abbott, the parliamentary secretary. Is it possible to have an indication from the government as to whether there is an intention to continue with a contribution agreement of some sort with this fund? That would be my first question. I'm not expecting an answer now, but I would hope to get an indication, because I, for one, am sold on the nature and the usefulness of this fund.
Overall, the numbers are quite impressive, Mr. Chairman. Since 1991, with $17.9 million, they've basically helped 20,000 projects along. Some of them might have been crashing successes, but some of them were not; some of them were great successes. It's part and parcel of developing the basic material to have an industry. I'm sold on this.
Perhaps, however, and this is in line with some of the questioning I have heard, I'm a little bit disappointed that there isn't more private sector funding. I think that they, too, have to realize the importance of having an industry fed by new producers with new ideas and new methods of trying things. I think they'd be well advised to perhaps kick in some more dollars, and perhaps even some from the provincial authorities as well in some instances, where they have educational television that benefits from the independent producers. In a strategy--and I'm not here to dictate one but perhaps to think out loud--I would encourage a government to find ways of enticing private sector contributions more, and greater cooperation on that basis.
The only other thing is that I was wondering if you had any stats in terms of the impact the fund has had on the exports of cultural products in terms of productions. Do you have any stats on that?
4:55 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
No, we don't have any stats.
I can't even say that I can get them for you, because export isn't really an area we deal with particularly.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I apologize for arriving late and for leaving early.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
There is just one thing. This might be a little inconsistent, but seeing as Mr. Bélanger is about ready to leave, I'm just going to interrupt our questioning. We're going to go on with a couple of more questions here yet.
This is just a notice to the committee members that on Monday, the minister will not be able to attend the meeting. It's been suggested that there is a funeral on Monday, and I know that a couple of our members who sit around this table might not be here. It's for Madam Broadbent.
We have a suggestion that it's a possibility that on February 7 the minister could be here and we could deal with plans and priorities of the department at that particular time. We don't have any more time from now until Christmas break. It's the second week that we're back.
The other thing is about Monday. What do we want to do on Monday? It's been suggested that maybe the committee could deal with the draft report on the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Act on Monday. It's something that has been suggested.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
How many meetings do we have before the Christmas break? Do we have four meetings before February 7?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Can we make an exception for one of these meetings, in order to bring the minister in?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
The closest date that the minister can be here is February 7.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Since it's being done with so much time in advance, she can make sure her calendar's not booked.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
That will be at least three times that the minister has been before this committee in one year. It's two more than I've ever seen before.
Yes, Mr. Kotto.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
That date would be acceptable given that it is before the budget. The committee could then support her as she makes her representations to the Minister of Finance and respond positively to the concerns that will have accumulated. She will have to consider us as her allies, not as her opponents.
5 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
On a point of order, we're supposed to be spiteful and low to the ground and partisan. You're supposed to rise above us all the time and make us see the big picture.
5 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you for that. I'll try to rise above it.
I just needed to have that confirmed for next Monday. We will work on the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Act. That gives my clerk and our staff here some direction.
Sorry for that interruption, but we will now go to Mr. Abbott for questions.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Thank you.
I really appreciate the information that we've received from you today, and I'd like to ask you a completely wide-open question. With all of these funds, the funding from the department, and so on and so forth, obviously there is an issue of accountability for the taxpayers' dollar. I respect that completely, as I know you do. But I'm just curious to know if you had any comment you wanted to make with respect to the paperwork aspect of your job.
One of the things that can happen very easily is that we can end up with a lot of overhead simply because of the cost of the time of people actually filling in the forms and so on and so forth. I'm just opening this up for you to make a comment on whether the current paperwork is just fine, or if you think there are some efficiencies that could be created, while at the same time ensuring that we have full accountability for the taxpayers' dollar.