Evidence of meeting #20 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Do you mean everybody who applied? You want everybody who applied, not just those approved?
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Those who were selected, the 88. It's those who passed the test.
Is that possible?
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
The list of projects selected has been released. For the projects that were not selected, I would gladly share it with you, but I would have to ask the people to give their permission because we're dealing with the Access to Information Act. The Act says that because there is confidential information in the applications, the applicants have to be asked whether they are prepared to release it. But as I told you, it isn't a problem for me.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I'm not asking for what is in the projects themselves, but if we could have the list with the amounts...
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Even that, if I may, we will check it with the...
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Okay, now the final question. I'm sorry I missed Mr. Del Mastro for the final question.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
It's all right, Mr. Chair. I'm often very quiet and easily overlooked. I understand. I won't blame you for that.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
I'm very demure over here.
Obviously, I don't think there's anything wrong with MPs coming forward and fighting for their regions. I think that's why this was called, as people wanted some clarification as to how the program worked, and ultimately people want to fight for their regions.
But I would note that Mr. Alain Simard was recently in the news, and one of the things he said was there was no doubt the federal government today was more involved in providing more support for festivals than any government ever has. I think that's a pretty big endorsement by somebody who also said he understood there was no guarantee of federal funding. Of course, he's the gentleman running the FrancoFolies.
So I think that as much as there is disappointment, I've never seen anybody who has applied for federal or government funding of any sort who hasn't been disappointed in some way if they weren't given the funding. I think it's a reality that we face that there is a finite amount of government funds available and an infinite number of asks. As much money as you put on the table, there will always be asks for more money over and above that.
Have you heard from any of the applicants last year or this year? Have you heard evidence from them, or have they made any comment to you about how this program is assisting them in drawing more tourists and promoting and operating their events? Were they telling you stories of difficulties in finding sponsors last year, and so forth? Are we hearing positive reviews of how the program has assisted these events through what was a fairly significant global recession?
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
As mentioned, all of those who have received funds have been asked to do an economic impact assessment. Those are ongoing and we should receive them shortly.
Having said that, a number of individual groups have noted that as a result of the MTEP program, they were able to add an event or add some plays, Stratford being a case in point. I think Monsieur Simard said that as a result of that, he had Stevie Wonder last year at the jazz festival in Montreal. It was directly related to that.
I think this speaks to the fact that it did have an impact during what was an extraordinarily difficult year for a number of sectors, tourism being one of them and the auto sector another, which we are also involved in. So 2009 was a horrible year, and I think these initiatives helped bridge a difficult gap.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Yes, I'd agree with you. I think it was part of a very effective economic action plan that has seen Canada lose significantly fewer jobs than competing economies. I think we're now seeing the benefits of a rapidly expanding economy. Our GDP is growing rapidly, with over 300,000 jobs created, Mr. Chairman. The OECD has referred to Canada as a shining star.
So I think this is part of an overall economic action plan.
I want to thank you for your work in administering the program on behalf of all parties. I think all members would agree that the success of the economic action plan is something we all celebrate.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Just in closing, I'd like to say one thing as chair; lots of times I don't have the opportunity. But I do represent Stratford—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
—and I'm just going to give you a little bit of an example of how important this was to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Last spring ticket sales were way down, and the festival projected there would be a $7 million loss. After they had done all the cutting they could do, they put 30 performances on hold. Once they got their funding and they did their advertising, their sales went up. At the end of the year, their sales were way up. They did end up in the black by I think close to $200,000. The economic impact in the area was pegged at somewhere around $34 million.
Was it a success? Yes. They just opened on Monday night, the grand opening night, for another great season of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. I hope everyone has an opportunity to attend that great tourist area in Stratford, Ontario.
