Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 7th, 2012

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

On this notice of motion?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Absolutely.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

A notice of motion, as I understand it—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Cash, we have your notice of motion, so you have five minutes left.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Thank you.

I'd like to pass my five minutes over to Madame Boutin-Sweet.

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

I would like to get back to the issue of museums.

I have a background in this field so I have a good understanding of how important museums are. Canada's 150th anniversary is an important event and museums have a very important role to play in celebrating it. It is important to tell people about this country's 150th anniversary.

However, for museums to be able to take part in this event, they would have to continue to exist and not be shut down. Although our topic today is the 150th anniversary, I would like to broaden the question somewhat to address the financial situation museums are in. I think you are in a good position to discuss the matter.

Mr. Calandra had already broached the issue and you explained how museums are funded. However, I would like to know if some of you receive endowment funds or any other types of funds to compensate for the situation. Because these are national museums, a large part of the funding comes from Canadian Heritage, but you still need to find several millions of dollars elsewhere—

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Sorry, Madame Boutin-Sweet, Mr. Calandra has a point of order.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

I know we have a rule of 48 hours on a motion, but I seek unanimous consent to allow the motion to be brought forward and to be debated right now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Is there unanimous consent for the motion that Mr. Calandra has put forward?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Could we just have a vote on that, please? I'm seeking unanimous consent—just so it's clear—so that the NDP's motion can be debated and considered right now. I'd like a recorded vote.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Cash.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Just for some clarity, this was a notice of motion. We understand that there's a 48-hour time period. So are you wanting to debate the motion, or the notice of motion? What do you want to do?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

What I am suggesting is that the committee give unanimous consent to dispense of the 48-hour notice and deal with your motion right now in front of this committee. I'm seeking unanimous consent to allow that to happen.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Is there consent for Mr. Calandra's—

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

I have a question, Mr. Chair.

To my understanding, it would be ideal to avoid this for our witnesses. I think this is precious time. They are here to discuss another matter, so I would like it if this was just tabled and then we could go on with the witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Simms, then Mr. Calandra.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

I'm glad it was brought up, because I attempted to bring this up before. However, I think we should have a vote to do this at the end as committee business—that's what we're seeking.

I'd like to do this now, but we can do this after we're finished with the guests here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

That would be in ten minutes. We do have committee business scheduled for—

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Why don't we do the debate and vote at that time? That's what I'm suggesting.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

I have a motion that—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Calandra has asked for unanimous consent that we consider the motion now. Is there consent?

Mr. Cash.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

I want to ask whether this debate is going to be in public or in camera. What's the government side's intention here?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

The debate on the motion would be up to the committee.