Canadian Heritage Committee on June 1st, 2006

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Congratulations on your appointment. I know this committee is going to work closely with you, and I hope we'll achieve some results.

I was pleased to hear you acknowledge your support of the richness of Canadian culture and a strong public and private broadcasting system, your strong support of CBC and Radio-Canada, and the financial support included in our budget. It's pretty clear this government isn't going to be abandoning arts and culture.

First, I'd like to help my friend across the way, Mr. Bélanger, who asked a question. I don't think he got an answer, and I think there's a very simple answer. It's a gentle question: whether the minister would offer this committee an opportunity to review and offer modifications to the terms of reference of the CBC/SRC mandate review prior to the commencement of the review.

It's not compulsory. You don't have to accept our recommendations. It's simply an opportunity to review the terms of reference and make some comments, make some suggestions to you.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

May I respond to that?

As you know, there is a process, because any action taken by our department and me as the minister is a government action. I would like to ensure that this committee has an opportunity to review the terms of reference and make recommendations, and I will then ensure that those recommendations are considered.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Thank you. That's the answer I was looking for.

My most important question has concerned a number of us on this committee, including the chair. That is the whole issue of museum policy, and as I understand it, the department has, somewhere along the line, proposed a complete review of our museum policy. I'm wondering whether the department and the minister are still considering a new museum policy, and if so, can you give us some details about that policy? I'm concerned that small museums in communities throughout Canada have felt as though they're the odd men out. I'm wondering whether a review will be coming, and whether that review will pay special attention to the needs of smaller museums across Canada.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Certainly we have initiated looking at the museums in Canada. Our first responsibility is to the national museums under the purview of Canadian Heritage, and in that regard we've also looked at the Auditor General's report and the recommendations she has made regarding those museums, and I've asked the department to prepare responses to those recommendations.

I've had the pleasure of visiting hundreds of museums as I've travelled across the country. As you know, many of those museums, small or large, are private. Some are provincial, some municipal.

We want to make sure the culture and the heritage of the country are maintained and respected. So part of the question is--and I don't have a response yet--how can we help the museums outside the federal purview, and to what extent.

Historically, different programs have come along depending on the needs of specific museums, and a great effort has been made to try to help every community, but I can't give you any specifics, because we intend to look at the traditional way the department has supported museums that are not federal. At this point we're at a very early stage in that review.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Do you have a timeframe within which you expect to complete this review?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

If we were in a position where we had some stability, I would be better prepared to give you a timeframe as to how long this government may be in a position to undertake a review and come back with a finalized museum policy. I am going to propose that it might take longer than one would suspect, because I believe truly that we have to confer and meet with as many representatives.... We've met with the museum associations. I've asked some of my colleagues to talk to the local museums to see what, from their perspective, are their greatest challenges right now. When you try to undertake this kind of in-depth, in-community consultation without undertaking a very costly and lengthy process....

I'm trying to expedite it, but I think the reality is that it will be longer in coming than in the near future.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

I'm sorry, Mr. Fast. Your time is up.

Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Madam Minister, can this committee presume that it will be offered an opportunity to have a go at the terms of reference of the CBC/Radio-Canada mandate before the summer recess?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Monsieur Bélanger, je travaille très forte.

As you know, we're nearing the end of this session. As to the actual scheduling, I'm not aware of your committee's schedule, etc., but I will be going forward shortly to cabinet to get their authorization to proceed. We're finalizing our presentation to cabinet as to the options on the process that we might suggest undertaking.

So I cannot make a commitment on a timeframe as to when you might have an opportunity to look at the terms of reference.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

Is it the intention of your department to keep funding the court challenges program beyond the next fiscal year?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I can't speak to this beyond the next fiscal year. As you know, we have just completed our input on the budget that is now before the House, and we will then proceed to do work on preparing for input on the next budget. Just check with my officials regarding the year to which the current funding extends.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I believe it's until the next fiscal year.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

It ends this fiscal year?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

No. I believe it's funded until the next fiscal year. The question is, would it be the intention of your department and your government to keep funding it beyond that year?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

It's there for the year 2007-08.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Yes, that's what I've said. Would it be the intention of your department or of your government to keep funding it beyond that horizon?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I'm not prepared to make a commitment beyond that horizon, only because we have not undertaken any review of this program. Again, this government was elected to ensure that all public funds are being used accountably and effectively, which is not to say that this program isn't valuable, but that we have not received a report on the review of the program.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

On another matter, I believe that in response to a question in the House from one of your colleagues, you confirmed that the government would keep funding Encounters With Canada, the program that was funded by your department via the Canadian Unity Council. However, I did alert your parliamentary secretary earlier this week that this may come up, because it is my understanding that the council may be forcing the program to dispose of the property it currently uses.

Is it your intention or the intention of your government to intervene so that the Terry Fox centre, which is used by Encounters With Canada, will be kept for that purpose?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Are you aware that an ultimatum or a deadline that's been given to the Encounters program is looming? Should a solution not be found, we could be in a situation where the program, which you've allowed to continue, may not have a place in which to carry out its welcoming of the students from across the country. Are you aware of that looming deadline?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Yes, I'm very aware of that looming deadline, and I would report back to you that we are working very cooperatively and would ask any who could also support very positive relationships so that we can ensure that this deadline.... We will meet the deadline. We know that the deadline is there and we're trying to work very diligently.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

The final question, Minister, concerns the whole industry of magazines in this country, for which there is a very valuable program in your department. However, it seems that Canada Post keep ratcheting up rates for magazines much faster than the program funding increases. The whole industry is faced with a situation now that is becoming less and less tenable. Is this situation being addressed, and if so, how?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Let me say that one of the first conversations I had with the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities was regarding PAP, which, as you know, works in cooperation with Canada Post. It's his responsibility. We've certainly agreed that the program and that relationship would continue for one more year. He asked for time to review Canada Post overall and is aware now of those actions being taken and the effect it has on our magazine industry. We have committed to work together to ensure that our magazine industry continues to be supported in whatever way is necessary going forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you very much for that.

Mr. Malo.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good afternoon, Minister. As you only have a few minutes left with us, I'll try to ask my questions succinctly, to enable you to answer them as fully as possible.

I was pleased to hear in your address that the Convention for the Promotion and Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was very important for you, as it is for us. I'd like to know what concrete measures your government will take to ensure that a majority of countries sign that convention and that it enters into effect as soon as possible.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Thank you for your question.

As I said, we do truly support the declaration and the ratification. As you know, we supported the previous government in the ratification of the declaration within the House in the last session.

First of all, on the concrete steps, I'm proud to say that I've met with the Coalition for Cultural Diversity and believe that group does very effective work, because it is able to work with groups within every one of the countries that are part of the declaration. It tries to use their domestic creative communities to work with their governments so that their governments will ratify the declaration as well.

The other efforts are in my meetings with foreign representatives from other countries. I ask them if they have plans and encourage them to ratify the declaration within their countries. It's important.

I assure you that I have also asked our foreign minister and other ministers who are going to international meetings if they can ask the same question of their counterparts. It's very top of mind and I'm using not only my own efforts but I'm asking my fellow ministers to use their relationships as well.