Yes.
Evidence of meeting #6 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 million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #6 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 million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Screen Training Centre
Yes.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I want to point out that there are 25, at the very least that I've found, that are supplying the same type of training. As I pointed out earlier, it is very difficult for government to make these difficult decisions, but we are doing what is in the best interest of arts and culture. Contrary to what Ms. Chow across the room has said with her misleading information, arts and culture are receiving 12% more than ever before. I'd like to know from each of you, specifically, what year did Canadian artists ever receive better?
What year, Mr. Lambert?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Chair, John Lambert and Associates Inc.
Better. Yes, we had the PromArt program, and it was functioning.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
That's 12% in total dollar value, and I have to say when you went back to 1957--
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I would ask that Mrs. Glover show some respect for the witnesses. It is not her place to put answers in their mouths. Kindly show some respect for our witnesses.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Secondly, the comments are based on the figures we have, that is on budget allocations that include the cuts.
If they have different numbers, please let them table them. If she's quoting from something we don't have, I would like to see those notes.
4:35 p.m.
An hon. member
Just read the budget.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Order, Mr. Del Mastro, Madame Lavallée.
Mrs. Glover, please carry on and keep your questions relevant, please.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Unfortunately, on both sides of the room, we're sometimes talking about different things.
Nevertheless, I want to assure you that our government is taking the artists to heart because we believe in them. We believe it is important to our economy. We believe it is important to our culture, and that is why we are going to continue to provide the highest level of funding of any previous government. Let me bring up 1995. Under a different government, this is what a cut is, because we've reallocated. In 1995 a cut is 44% cuts from cultural infrastructure programs, 71% cuts in multiculturalism projects, and 40% cuts to transfers to provinces for regional cultural development. That's what a cut is. We are reallocating. We are doing the best we can do as a government to provide artists with the best chance to succeed.
4:35 p.m.
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Screen Training Centre
You were very accurate when you pointed out that over the last ten years there has been a healthy increase in the number of groups that offer training. That's true, but not everyone offers training at the same level. The benefit of a national training program that has not-for-profit institutes as part of it.... And particularly in our case, it's the highly accessible nature of our program. Twenty-five percent of our students are of diversity. They're from all across this country. The tuition that we charge is very modest and it's at the same level that it was in 1997. It's offered at all levels.
The point I'm trying to make is that in the spectrum of training, there might be volume but there is only one program such as the one we're offering; it's the first in this country. And I'll be happy to forward to you a great deal of correspondence that we've received from past students who benefited from our program and are quite concerned about what lies ahead for people who will be following in their footsteps.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you very much for the answers. Witnesses, thank you very much for being available today at such short notice. And we do appreciate your coming.
We will recess for five minutes to clear the room for the rest of our meeting.
Thank you very much.
[Proceedings continue in camera]