Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 30th, 2010

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Scrimger, at the same time, aren't the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Museum of Nature also being cut back? Couldn't that money have gone there instead?

[Tom Scrimger]

I'm sorry, the money that I was speaking about reflected the department's changes in supplementaries (B). My understanding for Canada's four national museums is that they, like the CBC and all the other federal entities, have had reductions stemming out of salary freezes that have to be pulled back out of their budgets.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

My final question is on the Status of Women and the $129,000 being transferred out. Where is that money going, and why is it being transferred out?

[Tom Scrimger]

I'll have to get back on that. I just don't know.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

It's on page 114 in the estimates.

[Stephen Wallace]

Can we get back to you with the details on that question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much, Madam Crombie.

I believe, actually, that amount is being transferred into Status of Women, not out.

We'll now go to Monsieur Pomerleau.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon, and thank you all for being here.

In the supplementary estimates, on pages 118, 119 and 120, four little things caught my eye.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is asking for $5.8 million to address operating pressures at the museum.

A bit further on, the Canadian Museum of Nature asks for $2.8 million to address operating pressures at the museum.

And the same goes for the National Museum of Science and Technology, which asks for a few million, and the National Gallery of Canada, again to address operating pressures at the museum.

What does that mean exactly? Is it the same for every museum?

[Stephen Wallace]

It covers different expenses for each museum, but generally speaking, it includes maintenance work that has been put off, infrastructure investments and payments in lieu of municipal taxes. So it includes a slew of expenses, of operating pressures at all the museums, but the individual breakdown for each museum varies depending on its own circumstances.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Fine, but those things were put off because they were not part of the annual operating budget directly, is that not right?

[Stephen Wallace]

They were budget decisions that were made by the institution itself. Every year, each one has its own corporate plan, its own investments, and at some point, they have to make decisions regarding certain future pressures. This is one outcome of the supplementary estimates.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

But I would assume that, at the very least, they attach an explanation to their request.

[Stephen Wallace]

Every institution comes up with its yearly plan.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

On page 118, it also says that the “Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission” is requesting $2.6 million to “conduct investigations and enforcement activities associated with the operation of the National Do Not Call List”.

What does that mean?

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

You may be more familiar with its English name, the “do not call list”. It resulted from an amendment under the Telecommunications Act, and the CRTC needed additional resources in order to administer it. The CRTC is under Mr. Moore's portfolio, but the list was the result of a legislative change that applies to Mr. Clement's portfolio, since he is the industry minister.

They have to administer this new system, which allows Canadians to eat their dinner in peace, without the disruption of telemarketing calls.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

But it says here “investigations and enforcement activities”. In what context? Do they have to investigate the numbers before deciding to remove them from the call lists?

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

This is by no means my area of expertise, but generally speaking, Canadians have the right to put their name on a list so they are not disturbed by telemarketing calls, especially at dinner time.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

So it is to administer the list?

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

Yes, to administer the list. If certain individuals were to receive calls even though their name is on the list, an investigation would be conducted into the violation of the regulation.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

How is it that Canadian Heritage is the one responsible for managing it?

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

Because the CRTC, which has both a broadcasting and a telecommunications mandate, is under Minister Moore's portfolio.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I had asked in the past to be removed from the call list, but I did not know that it cost so much.

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

It does not cost you anything directly.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

No, it does not cost me anything directly.

[Jean-Pierre Blais]

You have to put police officers at intersections, even when there are stop signs there.