Evidence of meeting #8 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 program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Conseil québécois du théâtre
I would just like to add that, in Quebec, we have five major theatre—exclusively theatre—and artistic festivals. Of the $30 million announced by Ms. Verner for prominent festivals, 0.10 per cent of the budget increase went to these artistic festivals, and the rest went to the other festivals. My comments are not in any way a criticism of those other festivals, but art festivals, which are an opportunity for our artists and companies to make a direct connection with their audiences, are receiving very, very, very little benefit from this increase. If there were a substantial increase in funding, I think that connection would be very strong. For the time being, that is not the case.
Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly
Investment in festivals will be rendered less effective if we can't reciprocate those relationships. Festivals are about bringing foreign cultural product to Canada, but if we are not sending Canadian product abroad, how do you expect us to maintain relationships with those foreign buyers? It's a reciprocal relationship, and you're disabling one side of that relationship.
Conservative
Liberal
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
We know that the Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm, the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, PromArt, the Canada Feature Film Fund, and Canadian Culture Online were cut. Your organizations have also expressed frustration today about the cuts.
In the months leading up to these cuts, did you receive any type of consultation from the department itself that you would potentially have cuts made to your organizations?
You can just go one by one very quickly and state yes or no.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Perhaps they could indicate if they had notices of increases.
President, International Exchange for the Performing Arts
In our case, we were not consulted. We found out through the media, like everyone else.
President, Conseil québécois du théâtre
Neither were we. We represent about 150 Quebec—both Anglophone and Francophone—theatre companies. We were not consulted at all.
Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly
No, we weren't consulted.
Liberal
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
Mr. Paré was saying that he found out through the media. Could the other individuals tell me how they found out that they would be having cuts made to their organization, despite the fact that they represent hundreds and thousands of artists.
Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly
We found out via the website.
Liberal
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
All of you who are here today, you all found out through the media that you would be having cuts made to your organizations?
President, International Exchange for the Performing Arts
Yes. Through the media, yes.
Liberal
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
The witnesses were talking about almost 327 tours being cancelled, 3,400 representations, and almost $24 million in costs being lost as a result of the cuts, and I believe Shannon had just mentioned the reciprocal relationship being imbalanced and one side of it being cut. Could you please tell all of us on the committee here a little bit more about how the cuts are going to have an impact on Canada's international reputation by our not being able to send artists abroad to different festivals and different events?
Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly
As I mentioned in my presentation, it's simply a lack of a presence of Canadian artists and companies abroad. So we're much less visible on the international scene and, again, unable to reciprocate trade relationships in culture on the world stage.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
I hate to interrupt, but our points of order took up some time here during this process and our hour is up. We will recess right now and wait for our next witnesses, please.
Thank you very much, witnesses, for being here today.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Welcome back to the second half of our meeting today. The meeting will be over at 5:30.
Our witnesses for this hour include Stanley Péan, from UNEQ; from INIS, Jean Hamel and Jacques Blain; and from RIDEAU, Colette Brouillé. Welcome.
We will start off with Mr. Péan.
Stanley Péan President, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ)
Mr. Chairman--