Evidence of meeting #31 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was artists.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Vice-President, Effendi Records Inc.
On July 31, there was talk of increasing the envelope of another program, but there was no mention of eliminating those programs.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
In any case, it seems that the timing of the announcement is an indication that the government was not quite comfortable with the situation. When people are uncomfortable with announcing a decision, or when a decision is not supported by facts or figures, they make the announcement on a Friday afternoon.
However, I saw that ADISQ did not object to the decision. Why do you think that is?
Vice-President, Effendi Records Inc.
I myself am a member of ADISQ. I don't know why. Are you a member?
Director, DIFFUSION i MéDIA, Conseil québécois de la musique
We should put the question to members of the ADISQ.
Liberal
Director, DIFFUSION i MéDIA, Conseil québécois de la musique
You have to look at the way the press release was worded. It stated that ADISQ and the industry supported the creation of these two new programs, which they said were needed.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
But they were not necessarily supportive of the resulting cutbacks.
Director, DIFFUSION i MéDIA, Conseil québécois de la musique
Exactly. One program was cut to create two others.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Fine, but I am trying to understand. You have all said that these programs are needed, they are important, they diversify our music, they are not representative of traditional markets, they are not necessarily based on successful models or pop culture.
So why were these programs cut?
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
To save money. I don't know.
Liberal
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
Indeed. There really is no justification.
Liberal
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
I read the study on the Canada Music Fund, which Heritage Canada did in 2007. The study analyzed the different parts of the program. Although I read the 82 pages of the report, nowhere did it say that there were problems and that the program should be eliminated. On the contrary, as you conclude, the analysis showed that the program was effective. I also learned that the program did not cost a lot to manage, that it obtained high marks in that regard, and that when people received their grants, they were very satisfied.
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
The only small problem was that most respondents said they were not completely happy with the amount of the grant they had received. Indeed, for many years now, artists have been asking that the programs of the Canada Council for the Arts receive more funding.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
It is not that they wanted less money. They wanted more, but now they will be getting none at all.
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
On this very issue, we say that it is not... There is a quote.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No, my question was whether there was duplication. Are there other similar programs that exist?
Director General, Conseil québécois de la musique
We say there is no duplication.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
All right, but do you have any other similar programs left here in Ottawa?
Director, DIFFUSION i MéDIA, Conseil québécois de la musique
In actual fact, the answer is no. We are being told that FACTOR and MUSICACTION have sound recording programs, and that is true. However, there is no further money for these programs in future funds. So there is a good chance there may be a greater demand for grants, which will create enormous pressure on these programs. Moreover, these are fundamentally driven by the industry, by more commercial music, which does not work the same way as specialized music. So we have become orphans.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I get the impression it is going to kill the dream of many people or limit the choice of music Quebeckers and Canadians will have access to.
Officials will be appearing. What is the killer question? What questions should I ask them?