Evidence of meeting #33 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 cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Roger Pomerleau Bloc Drummond, QC
This will be my last question. On page 116 of the supplementary estimates, it says that $3 million will go to support the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.
What is the Michaëlle Jean Foundation? How long has it been around? What is Michaëlle Jean's involvement? Is she simply a figurehead, or does she actually administer the funds? What is the foundation's mission?
4:30 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I will let Mr. Scrimger answer that one.
If you would allow me 15 seconds, Mr. Chair, I can give an answer to the question about the Status of Women and the $129,000.
These were resources coming into Status of Women from other departments to be able to undertake gender-based statistical research on behalf of the whole government.
4:30 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
It's only stated as moneys for gender-based statistical research. I would gather that those are activities.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Do you want to answer other questions, as well? There are two minutes left.
4:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Ha, ha.
4:30 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I am embarrassed.
4:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Heritage, Department of Canadian Heritage
As for the question about the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, Canada's Governors General have a long-standing tradition of leaving behind a legacy in the form of initiatives that are named after them. Not only are these legacies a way to honour the work and memory of previous Governors General, but they are also an opportunity for the former office holders to continue contributing to society once they have left office.
The Michaëlle Jean Foundation is a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes citizen engagement and dialogue through the arts and creativity, with a special emphasis on youth. The foundation has three main objectives: to increase awareness of the arts to build a more innovative Canada; to enhance the network and cooperative relationships that connect the arts and creative communities with other sectors of society; and to promote local and national initiatives that help rebrand Canadian culture and revitalize our outlook on it.
With those objectives in mind, the foundation will deliver programs that foster community creativity, youth involvement and democracy.
Through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of Canada will support the Michaëlle Jean Foundation through a maximum funding grant of $10 million over 10 years. A first payment in the amount of $3 million will be made in 2010-2011. The amount of subsequent annual payments will be equal to the amount of any private donations, as confirmed by beneficiaries and external auditors. This means that the government will match any funds raised privately, up to the remaining $7 million.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Mr. Pomerleau.
Thank you, Mr. Scrimger.
Mr. Simms, you have the floor.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I want to go back to the issue about the savings, just very quickly, announced in 2010. Of course, it was proposed by the government that, in the year 2010-11, $300 million was the savings target overall. Right?
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The budget 2010 figure overall?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Yes, that's right--overall, $300 million. So far we have saved about $181 million.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, savings have come primarily in public security, defence, and cultural. So a fair amount of savings have to come out of this particular department, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
You touched on this earlier. Could you touch on it again? Where are these savings going to come from, and how much of these...?
I don't want you to comment on the overall envelope, but how much of the $181 million--thus far--comes from the cultural department?
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Although I don't have specific reference to the figures you're talking about, I can tell the committee members that these are things that would be covered in the reports on plans and priorities and the departmental performance reports. But we have a series of programs that are coming to an end. As these programs come to an end, they no longer show up in our books. They're no longer a part of the overall budget for the department.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Can you tell me what they are, briefly?
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The biggest example would be the Olympics. With respect to financing, over the last eight years, we had a ramp-up to the Olympics. Now that the Olympics are over, we have closed the federal secretariat on the Olympics, and that budget is being readjusted downwards.
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Another example would be financing for a royal tour. It doesn't happen every year.
A third example could be some of the financing from the strategic review process.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Is there anything that's ongoing—a normal program, something that's year over year, something other than a one-time event?
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Over the course of the last 12 months, to my knowledge, there has not been. But the details are in the reports on plans and priorities and the departmental performance report, which you can get.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay. I just thought we'd want to bring that up again.
Let me run it back to the CBC again. We've always talked about the $60 million appropriation since 2002. I don't mean to belabour the point, but what's the process on that $60 million? This is year over year, which means when do we know--when do you know--that this $60 million is coming?
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I can say that the $60 million has been provided since 2001—it has been provided every year since then—and normally speaking, these things are dealt with in the budgetary process.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
This additional $60 million has been provided to enhance Canadian programming since 2001.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Do you know whether it's coming for next year, then?
