I'll make it quick, as there is not much time remaining.
I believe most of you are already quite familiar with these motions, as I tabled them quite some time ago. In fact, I put forward the motion respecting the Canadian Tourism Commission on September 10. The motion calls on the committee to send for the executive of the Canadian Tourism Commission to appear and explain in what way the commission meets the eligibility criteria of the Marquee Tourism Events Program from which it obtained $8 million.
As you may recall, the Marquee Tourism Events Program had a total of $100 million to award over a two-year period. Deputy Minister Richard Dicerni testified before this committee that the program had a funding shortfall. Montreal's FrancoFolies was unable to secure the funding it was expecting, although it met all program eligibility criteria. It seems the minister invented another criteria after the fact. This just gives you a sense of the program and why the FrancoFolies did not receive any funding.
Fees of $6 million were also charged. The most surprising and disturbing fact is that the Canadian Tourism Commission obtained $8 million from the program. It begs the question: Why?
The committee needs to meet with commission officials to ask them why there was not enough money in the usual budget to conduct business as usual—perhaps it wasn't business as usual—and in what way they met program eligibility criteria. Crown corporations are not eligible for funding under the program and just like that, the commission receives $8 million, the largest amount awarded.
I think we need to have a meeting to look into this matter. I'm moving right along, because I have two other motions to put forward and I know you will not be debating them today. By the way, I'd like to thank the chair for allowing me to table these two motions at this time because unfortunately, I won't be here on Friday.
The second motion has to do with cultural diversity. This topic is in the news a lot these days because another round of talks on a free trade agreement with the European Union is under way in Ottawa. As you know, in 2005, Canada became the first country to promote and sign the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This convention provides broad protection to cultural industries and to the arts and culture in countries that recognize the distinctive nature of cultural activities. Culture is especially important and needs to be protected.
The fifth round of talks got under way yesterday in Ottawa. We feel that the Canadian government is not defending the convention on cultural diversity or defending cultural exemption provisions, whereas it is important to understand that our culture, the very essence of our identity, must be protected, and that goes for both Canada's and Quebec's identities. Furthermore, whatever concessions we make to the Europeans, the Americans will soon be demanding the same thing.
