Evidence of meeting #6 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean-Pierre Blais  Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

These questions are not mine. There's a CRTC process for anything you're describing. That's point number one, but number two is that we will always take action based on what is in the best interests of Canadians.

For example, we announced yesterday the Amazon decision. We didn't just say, “Amazon, come on in”; we said that Amazon can establish a warehouse in Mississauga. And through that process Canadians are going to be better off, because of the investments we're going to get in Canada. So—

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Theoretically, it could be the same for media.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

I don't answer theoretical questions, Charlie. You're asking me to prejudge a process that—

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

The CRTC couldn't make the decision. You would have to override the CRTC, as you did with the telephone decision: you overrode the CRTC. So it would be a government decision.

All I want to know, when I go back to people, is whether to say they overrode the CRTC on the telephone decision because they want foreign competition, but don't worry, they're not going to do it on broadcasting. I'm not hearing that. I'm hearing that it's hypothetical, that it's case by case.

Would you intervene and say we like this, if Goldman Sachs wants to buy up Canwest tomorrow? That's not hypothetical; it's very practical. Would you support it or would you not?

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

Charlie, we cross bridges as they come. As I said, there's a CRTC process that takes place. Don't prejudge the CRTC process.

You're asking me to comment on a hypothetical sale of a hypothetical asset to a hypothetical buyer in a hypothetical dynamic through a hypothetical CRTC process. When we actually see pieces and we actually have something to talk about, Charlie, we'll talk, and you'll be one of the first people I call.

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Thank you.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger

Thank you very much.

Just before I close the meeting, I would like to remind everyone that my riding of Perth--Wellington has the Stratford Shakespeare theatre, which is one of the greatest theatre groups in the country—

12:05 p.m.

An hon. member

No, no, you have that kid.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger

Yes, and we have Justin Bieber too.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.