Evidence of meeting #33 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.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Some people have come before us to tell us that this is a tremendous loss in terms of recording and distribution. Are you able to replace this program?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR)
No, but they've also gone on record as saying the funding from the Canada Council is what launched their career. FACTOR was there funding those same projects, so there is an inaccuracy in the statements.
I understand artists--
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
But they're the ones who said it. They said they had been cut and it was something huge for them. So I just want to know if you're going to get more money. Are you going to be able to help them? Do you have the same objectives, the same criteria, or not?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR)
We're already supporting them, so I can't say who I can and cannot support in the future. What I can say, what I say on many panels and seminars, is that if you never apply for the funding, you'll never get it.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Why, in your opinion, were the artists devastated?
I would also like to hear the opinion of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Director, Communications, Canada Council for the Arts
First, as I mentioned, people are still not aware of the terms and conditions of the new programs. They are thus uncertain, that is for sure.
Director, Communications, Canada Council for the Arts
They greatly appreciate receiving grants to help them in what they are doing, and they also appreciate the council's programs. I am not saying that they cannot be assisted, but the fact remains that only a small number of them can be.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I would like to ask the people from MUSICACTION and FACTOR to tell us what percentage of applications they received and accepted came from specialized musical artists rather than from producers.
You do not necessarily have to send us that today. It can be later this week. Do you think it would be possible to send that information to the chair?
General Director, MUSICACTION
Certainly. I also indicated in the text that this year, the rate of acceptance of specialized musical applications was 50% for us.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I would still like to receive the list.
I consulted the Internet to find the list of your projects that were approved last year. Of course, the specialized music category was not listed. I would like to see it. I saw that barely 1% of the $6 million that you distributed went to the emerging artist category, which is part of specialized music—at least, in the category called SEA, the amount was 1%, that is, approximately $60,000 out of a total of $6,283,497.
The categories in your list may not be adequate. If you could update your list, I would like you to send it to us, once again through the chair.
Ms. Ménard and Ms. Ostertag, your testimony is astonishing. The people from Canada Council for the Arts, who are right beside you, do not say the same thing at all. You said, among other things, that you are not concerned about profitability, that you do not ask for royalties from your members and that you study creative projects.
However, the Canada Council for the Arts says that you give priority to the potential profits of a recording. That is what they just said, and they are sitting right beside you. They also said that 85% of musicians who received sound recording grants for specialized music have no other place to apply for such grants.
I would like to know how you feel about that. How can you say that you are not concerned about the profitability of the projects of the musicians or producers that you fund? What do you say to the statements of the Canada Council for the Arts witnesses, who have contradicted you outright? They said the opposite of what you said, and I want to know what the truth is.
General Director, MUSICACTION
I don't know who is contradicting who here.
The Canada Council for the Arts witnesses claim that our selection methods take into account more commercial projects first and foremost. I would like to hear, from the Canada Council for the Arts people, where they get that information, because I showed you in my presentation that that is not the case. Our assessment is primarily on an artistic basis.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I'm sorry, but my time is running out.
So the Canada Council for the Arts witnesses say that you give priority to the potential profits of a recording, and you are telling me that that is not true.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Okay, that's fine. Some people will be surprised.
They also state that at least 85% of the musicians who receive funding from the Canada Council for the Arts may not be able to receive funding from the federal government in future. You do not agree with that.
General Director, MUSICACTION
I looked at the number of applications in the jazz category.
It must be kept in mind that highly specialized music genres, such as contemporary or electroacoustic, can turn to the Canada Council for the Arts. Everyone agrees with that.
Where there is a margin of error is in the categories of jazz, world music and folk, among others. They come under MUSICACTION. Just look at artists who have been....
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
But that is not the case for audio art. Those people do not qualify for your programs.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Fine, thank you.
I have a question for the people from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Has the department considered transferring the $1.3 million and adding it to your budget of $181 million, thereby allowing you to look after creators of specialized music? If it has not consulted you, would it be a good idea that it do so?
Director, Communications, Canada Council for the Arts
They did not suggest adding it to our budget. Yes, of course, we think it would be a good idea. However, they have not consulted us on that or asked us whether we thought it was advisable.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Is there a better solution than entrusting you with the specialized music sector from now on?
