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.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
I didn't hear a question, so thank you for that.
Mr. Simms.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I'm glad you're here today, and I'm going to do something legitimate for a change and actually make this hearing about you instead of about the political wranglings that happen in the House of Commons. How about that for a change?
I think we should be here to get some information from you. I'd like to point out to all my colleagues that this is the very reason why they're here, to do this, for us to extract the information to make future decisions.
Nevertheless, I'd like to ask you, Mr. Péan, about the situation you find yourself in. You made a comment that really actually interests me. You said something about the publisher you know who got two writers to be published because of the program that was available to them where they can promote themselves internationally. Could you go into more detail about that? I'm trying to explore how this program works. I understand the concept of foreign market development for our authors, for our artists, but how imperative is it for them to rely on a program such as this in order for them to publish material?
5:15 p.m.
President, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ)
According to studies, 700 copies, on average, are sold in Quebec of books written by Quebec authors. When 2,000 copies are sold, we are talking about a bestseller. That gives you an idea of how small the market is.
When writers like Gaétan Soucy, who was the guest at the Paris Book Fair in 1999, or Gil Courtemanche, in 2001, are invited abroad and meet with publishers, it is an opportunity for them to be seen in other forums. And, as was the case for these two writers, who are the biggest success stories in Quebec publishing in the last 10 years, that can lead to the translation and export of their works. We're talking about books that have been translated into 26 different languages, in both cases.
That is why this support is important.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I'm sorry, I hate to interrupt, but I don't have a lot of time.
So let me get this straight. You're saying that to have it translated into other languages leverages your material to a great degree, but in the absence of government programs to allow these people to travel, that falls through. Is that correct to say?
5:15 p.m.
President, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ)
It is more difficult for publishers to pay for their writers' travel. That assistance allowed publishers to take writers with them on promotional tours.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay, so for the most part the private sector does not facilitate a lot of travel for local authors?
5:15 p.m.
President, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ)
These are shared-cost programs. PromArt and Trade Routes paid for plane tickets, but the publisher would defray the cost of their lodging while abroad.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I guess what I'm trying to ask you is this. One dollar from the federal government to help promote your product internationally really translates into how many dollars? Can you give me a dollar--
5:15 p.m.
President, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ)
The ratio is usually about one to three.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay, I'm going to open up the same line of questioning to artists in this particular area, because I'm very interested in this foreign market development. I think we underestimate the value. What we invested in the PromArt and Trade Routes programs really catapults us by eightfold or ninefold, as per the investment. Do you understand what I'm saying? A lot of people will say, “Why are you doing that? You should let the private sector promote your product abroad”, which is similar to what happened in the United States. Well, they're having problems right now because perhaps they relied on the private sector too much, whereas in Europe it's the other way. It's totally the public sector. So we had this happy medium--if we can call it happy.
I'm just trying to find out how much is a $1 investment from the federal government to take your product outside of this country...?
5:20 p.m.
Executive Director, Réseau indépendant des diffuseurs d'événements artistiques unis (RIDEAU)
As far as we are concerned, the numbers are very much like the ones mentioned by Mr. Paré. As performance presenters, there is one thing that has not yet been mentioned, but should, in my opinion. As presenters, we know that hosting foreign presenters here allows for a lot of sharing among people with different kinds of professional expertise. That is very important, in terms of helping members of the profession to train and develop; professionals here in this country need an opportunity to talk and exchange views in their respective areas of expertise. At the Bourse RIDEAU, we provide training and bring in foreign professionals at the same time. Our primary relationship is with professionals, as opposed to artists. However, the Bourse RIDEAU does give artists access to foreign markets, because we host professionals. In terms of the leverage for artists on foreign markets--
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay, so it's the import as well. I understand.
5:20 p.m.
Executive Director, Réseau indépendant des diffuseurs d'événements artistiques unis (RIDEAU)
--I prefer to let artists associations talk about specific numbers.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Monsieur Blain, I have a quick question on the issue of training. I know you provided invaluable service to the training of individuals in that type of artistry, whether it's film, video, you name it. Let me paint a scenario for you very quickly. Where I come from, if someone wants to learn how to drive heavy equipment, they apply to either the province or the federal government to receive, under Human Resources, some investment in training. Do you receive that type of assistance as well, or in other words, what is the ratio? How much do you rely on Canadian Heritage for your aspect of training people?
5:20 p.m.
Producer, Business Development, Cirrus Communications, Institut national de l'image et du son (INIS)
It was 25% of our budget.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Now, there was 75% that came from where?
5:20 p.m.
Producer, Business Development, Cirrus Communications, Institut national de l'image et du son (INIS)
From the private sector and the provincial government.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
For the provincial government, when it comes to human resources training, how much is that?
5:20 p.m.
Director of Communications, Institut national de l'image et du son (INIS)
Is the question related to the budget of INIS or the budget of a private enterprise?
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
5:20 p.m.
Director of Communications, Institut national de l'image et du son (INIS)
Then it's 25% from the provincial government, 25% from the federal government, and 50% roughly from the private sector.
5:20 p.m.
Producer, Business Development, Cirrus Communications, Institut national de l'image et du son (INIS)
At the beginning, when INIS was created, the deal was 50-50, public money and private money, to fund the organization.
5:20 p.m.
Executive Director, Réseau indépendant des diffuseurs d'événements artistiques unis (RIDEAU)
The international component of the Bourse RIDEAU, the $16,000 contribution from Canadian Heritage and Trade Routes, represents about 10 per cent of the budget.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Thank you for that.
I skipped over Mr. Davies so I could give him the last question of the day.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your courtesy and kind indulgence. In that 15 minutes, I've gotten firmly up to speed on all heritage and culture issues in the country.
Mr. Angus has kindly left me some questions that he would like me to ask on his behalf. My first question will be directed to Mr. Hamel.
We are concerned about the loss of the Canada New Media Fund. We're interested in finding out what role that fund played in your organization and what impact the loss of this program might have on the future of your organization.
Could you elaborate on that first, please?