Evidence of meeting #37 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 negotiations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
Thanks, Mr. Minister, for coming here today.
You seem to be skating a bit, so I'll get to the--
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
On the issue of the cultural exemption, I just want to ask you a very clear question. Are you saying that the government will not sign any agreement that does not maintain the full cultural exemption of Canadian cultural industries?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
That the government will not sign an agreement that does not maintain a full cultural exemption.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
We will be seeking a full cultural exemption. The difference is that the actual form of this agreement is much broader and deeper than NAFTA, for example. We can't simply say we're going to take what we had in NAFTA and drop it in here, because in some places it may not make sense to do that.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
That sounds to me like cultural industries are on the table.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
I don't think so. I think, in fact, the interest on both sides is very much to protect culture.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
But you're saying there is negotiation taking place around our cultural industries. By extension we can assume there is no position of this government that there will be a maintaining of the full cultural exemption.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
I think what's on the table might be form. In substance we're seeking full exemption. I don't think that's on the table. Everything is on the table, in theory, because it's a broad negotiation, but we are seeking the full cultural exemption, and we're quite confident we will obtain full protection for Canadian cultural industries.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Very well. We'll go further.
In the area of cable broadcasting and telecommunications, Canada has always maintained a level of Canadian content and protection for Canadian property. Are you telling us that these aspects are also under negotiation?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
My understanding is that there is probably only one area of potential substance that the European Union is seeking to negotiate with us. That would not extend to that. My understanding is there's no challenge to Canadian content, for example, in radio broadcasting. That is not being challenged.
The one area they are raising is the issue of the support we provide for the publishing industry through various programs. Their concerns there would be either that they have access to the same kind of support or that we not be able to provide that support for publishing industries. The position we are taking in the negotiations is that we wish to be able to continue those programs and have them covered by an exemption so that we can support our publishing industry and Canadian culture in that fashion.
I think that is probably the only actual difference--and I'll invite Steve to correct if he sees it differently--between the European Union and us in substance in the negotiations. All the other ones deal with form, how you're going to craft things, where things are going to be placed, and which chapters you'll have stuff apply to--stuff that doesn't change the outcome but might make it look a little different from what you've seen in previous agreements. The only actual substance one is the one relating to publishing, as I understand it.
Steve, do you have a different view?
January 31st, 2011 / 4 p.m.
Steve Verheul Chief Trade Negotiator, Canada-European Union, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
No. I think you've captured that, actually.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
The Canadian Conference of the Arts and other cultural industry organizations have said very clearly that they're concerned about this. They want to know the details about what's being negotiated.
I think we can surmise from what you're saying today that both cultural industries and some of the cultural protections that Canada has had are clearly on the table.
My next question is, quite simply, why haven't you sat down with the cultural industry to release the details of what's being negotiated, and what's being negotiated away, so that the cultural sector can have an understanding of the full ramifications of where this agreement could lead?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
I think I said quite the opposite, that there's only one narrow issue on which the EU is making a substantive ask on culture, and that is the issue of subsidies or programs to support publishing.
We have been consulting with, among other people, the Association of Canadian Publishers, Magazines Canada, those that would be specifically interested. They're aware of the fact that these issues are in discussion. We have their input, and I believe they are pleased with the position we are taking in the negotiations.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I referenced the Canadian Conference of the Arts. This is an organization that has called for the full details to be released. So I come back to the question, which is, why haven't you released those details? Why haven't you sat down with the cultural industries?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Well, we have sat down with the Canadian Conference of the Arts.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
And they are calling for the full details to be released.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
We're happy to meet with them and consult some more if they are unsatisfied with the consultations so far.
4 p.m.
NDP
4 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
We have a very broad and open consultation here, and we're quite happy to do that again.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
To what extent has your ministry done full studies on what the impact would be on the cultural industries of what is on the table in this agreement?
