Evidence of meeting #4 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 budget.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
It's speculative, and where it's not speculative, is on the side of government intervention, but that's neither here nor there.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Thank you very much for coming in today. I appreciate the time. Do you feel the heat? It's not only outside, but it's inside.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I'm a younger person, and I do have a concern about the arts going forward. I want to ensure that Canadian culture is maintained and that we have sovereignty within our cultural endeavours in this country, because I think it will be important for my children and my children's children.
I know it's very tough to speculate as to how things might turn out 50 years from now, but I would suggest that we are at a very important time in history. There's an increased influence from globalization. The technology that's being put forward is going to change the way--and you talked about this a little earlier--we consume culture and intermingle with culture.
I'm just wondering if you would comment briefly on issues that you'll have to deal with at the Canada Council within the next number of years with regard to some of these impacts we see being placed on us from outside forces.
As an Individual
If I can make a distinction between policy and philosophy, I'm very happy to speak on the philosophy side of the equation, but I can't speak on the policy side.
Philosophically, I believe it's the arts and culture that unite people into a collectivity. I was trained in the social sciences, and my first specialization was in anthropology. It was absolutely clear to me as a student, and it is absolutely clear to me as an adult today, that it is not genetics or politics that unite people, it's culture.
If Canada wishes to maintain its sovereignty as a separate nation in the world, it will have to invest in ensuring that the Canadian people share a common culture. The arts are an important part of that culture, and they are undoubtedly bombarded by the transborder power of present-day technologies, which expose us increasingly--not decreasingly, but increasingly--to outside cultural voices.
I am not sure what role the Canada Council will play for the next 50 years in that debate, that struggle, that challenge, but there's no question that it will have to play a critical role. There's no question that if government and the council do not see culture as a critical component in the sovereignty of the people of Canada, we will not be able to protect our independence as a nation in the long run.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I was just wondering if there are some impacts in the next number of years that you view the council will have to deal with. Is there anything that jumps out as being some of the first challenges you'll have to face in this position? Maybe it's all speculative--
As an Individual
It's awkward. I'm not on the job yet. I haven't actually sat down with my colleagues, and I haven't been able to--
Conservative
As an Individual
I know one of the great priorities that I personally have--again, I can't speak policy-wise, but I can speak philosophically--is the accessibility of art to the people of the country. I really believe that ultimately we're going to have to be more proactive in trying to expose people to what constitutes the best of Canadian theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, etc. If that's a partial answer to your question, then at least it's a partial answer.
The Canada Council isn't the only player in that field. I will really be promoting the idea that the Canada Council work with partnerships, especially with other agencies in the Canadian Heritage portfolio, to move forward on the accessibility issue as well as the supply issue.
Conservative
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
My question is in terms of the overall budget, because we have $11-million-and-some for general administration and $9-million-and-some for the administration of the programs themselves. That's $20 million for administration. Then there's an additional $10 million that's kept as a surplus. So that's $30 million of the budget.
My question is twofold. First, have you looked at the administration costs in terms of the Canada Council's overall budget, and are there areas we can improve on? Second, can you explain to me the need to have $10 million sitting in a surplus when it's an annual funding program? It's not as if you are running a feeder school or a feeder company and you'd want to maintain a bit of a padding if revenues fell one year. I'm wondering, why is $10 million kept out of the money that could be used for programming?
As an Individual
In all honesty, I can't answer that question. I'm not inside the organization, and I do not yet have a full understanding of the decisions that lie behind the organization's accounting.
I do know that the administration of the Canada Council is approximately 14% of the budget. I do know from my experience at the Ontario Arts Council that this is a very respectably low number and that it's not viewed on the international scene as in any way being an eyebrow-raising percentage.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you, Mr. Angus, and thank you, Mr. Sirman.
Now, as chair, I have a minute or two.
I must say that I've been very intrigued with some of your answers today. I come from a small rural area, but with quite a theatrical presence. I live just outside of Stratford, Ontario, which last night had its 54th opening night. They started out very small, and I can tell you how important the arts are to Perth county, to Stratford...not only to Ontario, but to Canada and to the world. We have world-renowned artists who have trained there and have gone forward, and I know that the Canada Council has been very, very instrumental in what has gone on there.
I hear at various times that sometimes people from other countries help us with our arts, and I don't know if everyone understands this. Sometimes they even help secure some of the funding that might be provided here. I know that with the endowment fund at the Stratford Festival, they set a goal a number of years ago of some $50 million. I was talking to the chair in charge of that endowment fund last night, who had just presented $1.3 million to the festival for working capital. I do know that there was a couple from Chicago who donated $5 million to the Stratford Festival foundation that helped with that. It was matched I think through the Canada Council, or by someone through Canada Council.
I met last year with the Canada Council people. I would like to address something that was said earlier about you and the ballet, and primarily from that side. Karen Kain from the ballet...I had arts people, I had writers, I had everyone come to my office. And then I met with Minister Oda, who was our critic at that particular time, with a bigger group, so I know how important it is.
I must say that I congratulate all the members of the committee, and you, sir, for this great meeting that we've had this afternoon.
While you are still here, sir, I would like to have someone move the motion, as follows:
That the Committee report to the House that it has examined the qualifications and competence of Robert Sirman and finds him competent to perform the duties of the position of Director of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Do I have a seconder? It is seconded by Mr. Simms.
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you very much. I do know how warm it is, and I'm quite sure it was warm for you today, but your answers were superb. I know when you get to your new job there will be a bit of a learning curve, I'm quite sure, but all the best, sir, and give my best to the Canada Council.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Let's take about a five-minute break before we get to our other business, and then we'll carry on.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Maybe we can get back to business here. We've got a fair bit of work still to do.
The first item on the docket is that at the last meeting, Mr. Kotto moved a motion, and I understand he would like to withdraw that motion.
