Canadian Heritage Committee on March 2nd, 2009

[John Lambert]

It's a very difficult time financially right now because of the financial insecurity around the world. Foreign currencies are falling, so when we sell, for example, to Korea, the Korean money is devalued in terms of the Canadian dollar, so they're feeling poorer. It becomes a trade barrier in a certain way because not only do they have to pay more for the fee but they don't have the funds to also pay for the travel and the cargo. So they will take a product, a production, that comes from Australia, the United Kingdom, or from France, where the travel and cargo costs are covered.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

So then, this is very bad for the industry here in Canada.

[John Lambert]

Also, we have Canadian festivals such as Luminato in Toronto and the Festival TransAmériques in Montreal. When they purchase productions from other countries, they expect the British Council to pay the cargo and the travel to deliver to our market.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Therefore, our competitors have a real advantage over us.

[John Lambert]

We have an advantage in terms of the quality of what we're offering because it's really very well.... Robert Lepage, Cirque Éloize, Marie Chouinard, all these companies are really the top artists around the world, but we're at a disadvantage in terms of delivering to market.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You would recommend then that a program like PromArt be maintained, but that it be administered by, say, the Canada Council.

[John Lambert]

I can see why Foreign Affairs Canada might not want to administer this program any more because of other priorities in terms of the military, etc., diplomatic, but we have the Canada Council, which is set up—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Would that be your priority, to transfer it and be managed by the Canada Council?

[John Lambert]

They have a jury system set up and they actually do have an international program, but it doesn't have enough money. It's a secondary program entirely.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Ms. Jackson, you were told that your fund is no longer a priority for the government. Is that correct?

[Robin Jackson]

I believe the department's priority is full-length feature productions. We produced documentaries.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Therefore, it is incorrect to state that each time, these cuts were made for administrative reasons. The government made some choices based on content and set production priorities for Canadians. Your fund happens to not be a priority.

[Robin Jackson]

You'd have to ask them. I don't really see a coherent film policy to be able to say we fit in or we don't. I don't think there is a policy.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I have a short question for either Mr. Robitaille or Mr. Berdowski.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Very short.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Very short, Mr. Chair.

You said “We may close our doors in a year”.

That is what you said. If you're not active in this area, what repercussions will this have on the film and video industry?

[Max Berdowski]

You can't have a sustainable industry without continuing to build on its infrastructure. The infrastructure for film and television is its people, and the way you do that is through training. So it's something that is a constant that is required. It's impossible to predict what lies down the road, but it certainly doesn't look very rosy.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Madame Lavallée, please.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I listened to what the three of you had to say. You described very different programs, although each ones looks as practical and effective as the next, and all are adversely impacted by the cuts. We have heard about cancelled tours, aborted film and documentary projects and the closure of your school.

I have so many questions that I don't know where to start. Earlier, my colleague Mr. Rodriguez asked if you had been consulted. You said that you had not. Are you familiar with the analysis that was done of the grant program that was slashed? Have you seen this analysis, Mr. Lambert?

[John Lambert]

No, I didn't know there was really an analysis.

I don't think our milieu—

I apologize for answering in English.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

It's fine, I will listen to the interpretation.

[John Lambert]

I don't think there was really an analysis. I think it was a departmental decision.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Have you seen this analysis, Ms. Jackson?

[Robin Jackson]

No, I haven't seen it either.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Do you also believe that it was a departmental decision, a political decision?