Evidence of meeting #26 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 films.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean-François Bernier  Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage
Jean-Pierre C. Gauthier  Director, Film and Video Policy and Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Jacques Lahaie

4:15 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

That is correct.

That is why we are working on this with Telefilm and Library and Archives Canada. We want to determine the appropriate performance indicators in this regard.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

You are working on preservation, but are you also working on developing performance indicators with respect to preservation?

4:15 p.m.

Director, Film and Video Policy and Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-Pierre C. Gauthier

I would like to take a few steps back and try to clarify things. If that works, then fine. If not, let us know, and we will try to better explain the issue.

Basically, we have five priorities, which have been set out. I believe you have drawn up a list: tax credits, centralization, co-production, NFB films and feature films.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Those are the five priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Director, Film and Video Policy and Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

The following ones are not priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Director, Film and Video Policy and Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-Pierre C. Gauthier

No. We received two reports on feature films, one submitted by this committee, containing a series of recommendations, and the other, our own evaluation report, which also includes a series of recommendations. We analyzed all the recommendations and established a what- to- do- list to ensure a proper follow up of feature film policy. We calculated that...

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

So, there are sub-priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Director, Film and Video Policy and Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-Pierre C. Gauthier

Yes, if you will. Within the feature film file, we want to improve means of measuring performance. We concluded that box office receipts were very satisfactory. We had reached our 5% target, things were going quite well on that front. Furthermore, targets had perhaps not been as clearly established in other sectors.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

I have to speed up, because I am running out of time. Training and professional development as well as long form documentaries are secondary priorities. Is that correct?

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

Yes. The long form documentaries are [Inaudible]

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

That is a sub-priority. For each of those files, what are the timeframes?

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

You will find the timeframes for the five priorities in the Report on plans and priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Excellent. Thank you. With regard to feature films, that is included in the 2006-2007 Report on plans and priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

If I read it right, you're talking here about the fall of 2007, under training and professional development.

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

The evaluation will be received in the fall of 2007.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

In that case, it's not in the 2006-2007 plans and priorities.

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

The deadlines are spread out over three years. The Report on Plans and Priorities is spread out over a period of three years.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Here's what I'm getting at: Can we expect something in the next budget or are all of the plans for later?

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

It depends on the minister's reaction to our recommendations.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Okay. I respect that. I'm not setting a trap for you. Does the department plan to recommend concrete action to the minister, with the necessary funding, before the end of the current fiscal year, with a view to the next budget? Is that part of the department's plans?

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

When you say the next budget, do you mean budget 2007?

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

For fiscal year 2007-2008.

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage

Jean-François Bernier

That's right. I will answer your question with a hopefully.