Evidence of meeting #43 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was games.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Mr. Carrier, you said that you opened up a gaming division in 2005. Could you reiterate for me what you said about the growth of your industry in the last couple of years?
Communications Director, Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.
In the past 10 years in Quebec, it's been an annual rate of 23.4% in terms of jobs. For us it went from zero to 3,000 in 15 years in Canada.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
That's a remarkable rate of growth when you consider that it has been a high dollar environment since then, and you're still managing to grow. In fact, Mr. Carrier, you've actually started a brand new division in a high dollar environment.
Some people have suggested that cutting taxes for businesses—small, medium, and even large businesses—is a bad idea, that it kills jobs, kills growth, and does nothing to encourage people or business to open up and invest in Canada. Would you agree with that?
Communications Director, Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.
Who wants to take that one?
Vice-President and Studio Head, Warner Brothers Games Montréal
I will answer in general terms.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
I want to know specifically. If I increased your business taxes by 10%, or higher than any other jurisdiction around you, would that have an impact on whether you decided to stay in Canada?
NDP
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
First of all, the member is asking our invited guests to answer a hypothetical question that has nothing to do with what we're talking about here. It's showing a bit of disrespect.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
They first came here in 1997, so be careful who you compliment.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
I have no problem complimenting any government that has helped an industry grow so big. My question is whether tax rates impact where you decide to invest.
Vice-President and Studio Head, Warner Brothers Games Montréal
We certainly look at all the competitive aspects. Truth be told, one of the reasons the industry grew at the rate it did especially in Quebec was that we got favourable tax breaks from the Quebec government. It was a great catalyst to the industry. With any business, we look to the most competitive environments.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Okay.
The opposition, the official opposition in particular, has been extraordinarily critical of this government for its focus on foreign-trained workers to fill the gaps when Canadians cannot fill those gaps.
Our immigration records show that we've expanded that area, because we can't fill some of those shortfalls. If we do what the opposition has asked us to do and kill the program entirely, how would that impact your business tomorrow?
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Pierre Nantel
Excuse me, Mr. Calandra. Just a moment, please.
I would like to ask our witnesses if they feel comfortable answering that question. If not, there is no problem if they do not answer.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
No, I don't agree with that. I've asked a question of the witnesses, and I expect them to give me an answer. It's a pretty simple question. How will killing the foreign trained workers program for having foreign workers come into this country impact this industry?
NDP
NDP
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
My friend across the way is mischaracterizing the opposition once again. Be that as it may, this is not part of the study we are endeavouring to do right now.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Pierre Nantel
I am sorry, but, as chair, I feel that it is part of the study. But I am going to ask Mr. Calandra here not to try to criticize the party opposite in front of the witnesses. You can ask all the questions you like, but not by saying “the idiots opposite think this, that or the other”. That is all I am asking of you. Ask the same questions, but without criticizing the opposition. We will do exactly the same.
You may continue, Mr. Calandra, unless you prefer to hear the witnesses answer right away.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
If we did what the official opposition asked us to do and killed the program entirely, and you were unable to get foreign-trained professionals to come in and fill those gaps, how would that impact your business?
Communications Director, Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.
First, when you are talking about the program, I am not sure that I know which one you are referring to.
October 25th, 2012 / 5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
You're not getting any LMOs. You're not going to foreign-based professionals to fill the gaps that Canadians can't fill.
Communications Director, Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.
For us, as I mentioned in my opening statement, 30% of our hires last year were from abroad. The reason for this was that in Quebec we had 1,000 jobs to fill for people with two years' to seven years' experience. For us, being able to bring in people from abroad is important.
Canada established itself as having the biggest number of video game developers in the world per capita. It has become a destination for people. The best talent in the world wants to work here.
If an open position for a programmer with 15 years' experience is not filled in a critical field, wherever that programmer comes from, it affects our global competitiveness. It's a problem for us, because the guys in China will have him and will be better than us. We want the best talent in the world.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Thank you for that. I appreciate it.
With that, I have a motion to adjourn.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Pierre Nantel
Thank you very much. I accept your motion to adjourn.
Mr. Duchaine, Mr. Iwaniuk and Mr. Carrier, thank you very much for your testimony. I am sorry that we went off the rails at the end of the session. You will surely be happy to know that we are going to have Denis Talbot with us.
I am crossing my fingers because I think that he has contributed a lot to this pool of creative people.
Thank you very much. Until next time.
Meeting adjourned.