Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 1st, 2011

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Okay.

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

Okay...?

We talked a little with the Australian High Commissioner about events outside of the country and how we could actually promote--or if there is an opportunity to promote--Canada's 150th outside of Canada. I was in Cyprus two years ago,I think, and Just for Laughs was actually on TV. It was one of the only things actually on TV in Cyprus; hopefully nobody gets offended, but its a terrible place to watch TV. Just for Laughs was actually on and translated into Greek.

The only other place I've visited as a member of Parliament has been Taiwan, and of course Just for Laughs was also on Taiwan TV. I'm wondering if you know how many countries Just for Laughs is actually viewed in and if there is an opportunity for us to actually begin to promote Canada's 150th through Just for Laughs?

[André Picard]

We vary. For Just for Laughs, we've reached a peak of about 135 countries and about 98 airlines. The advantage of Gags is that gags are non-verbal. Non-verbal content is very powerful. The nature of airlines has evolved a bit with the back-of-seat screens.

We've had a similar program with Tourisme Québec for a number of years. We identify the locations of shootings that are emblematic or iconic Montreal locations, parks, etc.. We've redone the opening credits and the bumpers to identify Montreal and Quebec, as a tourism vehicle. We could easily do the same thing as one form of ambassadorship across the world. That's something that can be put in place rather early.

We've just launched Just for Laughs Gags for Kids, which is now looking like it's going to be a huge hit on the same scale.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Thank you.

Madame Boutin-Sweet.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think it won't be difficult to understand why I want to ask Ms. Pothier some questions. I know the museum very well. Unfortunately, you don't have that luck, so I would like for you to get to know it as well. I am aware that the archaeological sites that were discovered there are important not only to the history of the city of Montreal but also to that of the province and of Canada; I think Ms. Pothier communicated that well. There are things we know very little about in history. As an archaeologist myself, I didn't even know when I started working at the museum that the Canadian Parliament had been there. Facts that we know very little about, such as the fact that responsible government began there, etc., in my opinion demonstrate the importance of these sites.

When we met Minister Moore the other day, he suggested that prior to solidifying the 150^th anniversary activities, we should consult with various groups such as cities, provinces, etc. I would like to have an idea of the importance that the City of Montreal gives to the museum's projects, in particular the development project that is highlighting the Canadian Parliament.

[Louise Pothier]

They consider it extremely important. The very fact that they contributed up to 1.5 million dollars for the archaeological digs and for the project we completed this summer, the results of which will be seen at the beginning of 2012, demonstrate the City's interest. The digs were completed on a municipal site, a former parking lot that had been there for 80 years. I think the City wants to transform the space, and that alone is quite an important task, evidently. The City committed large sums of money in its three-year implementation plan over the next few years, in hopes that...actually, the goal for 2017, for the City of Montreal and for the government of Quebec, is an important one. Up until now, the City has shown interest in making a heritage legacy of the site for the its 375^th anniversary. Already political will is onside, but it's a project that cannot be accomplished with the City alone. Obviously, if we combine the very nature of the site, which was the site of the Parliament, and the fact that we are celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Confederation, I think that this alignment of the stars is a significant opportunity of which we must take advantage.

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

Thank you. You also spoke of projects that unite people, of activities that the museum has engaged in the past and that could be carried out, for example, with school children. Has the museum thought of specific things that could be done to bring together and unite different groups such as school children?

[Louise Pothier]

The museum already welcomes 100 000 children each year; we're talking about a loyal clientele. This includes school groups and groups of young people who come with their families.

For the past fifteen years, we've had a lot of on-site projects. These are educational projects, of course, but we've also had projects that use technology.

There are, for example, virtual exhibitions and online games. The museum has great expertise in this area, and it's something we want to explore.

We can often carry out uniting projects. When we say "uniting", in fact, we mean that they also reach people in places far from Montreal. We can make people come to Montreal, but we can also reach them where they are.

I'm thinking of social media such as Facebook, for example. We can, of course, launch various projects across Canada to reach kids. We can also create educational sites to communicate this piece of history which most Canadians know very little about.

It is a page of history of which I myself knew very little prior to working at the museum. I think we have a lot of work to do. I can guarantee you that there will be no lack of projects seeking to unite the population and interest them in this historic event.

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

What kind of cooperation do you envision from the federal government?

[Louise Pothier]

The federal government already worked with Pointe-à-Callière for the museum's creation in 1992. It's nothing new; it wouldn't be a first.

We already work with the Department of Canadian Heritage for various projects. We already work with Public Works and Government Services Canada as well as with the Canada Revenue Agency. To make a long story short, the museum's archaeological complex houses the first customs agency of Montreal, the Canadian customs office of Montreal. The Montreal customs office is still located within the Pointe-à-Callière perimeter.

It's collaborative work. We do certainly see it in the context of the 150^th anniversary. I think it's a matter of continuing rather than initiating collaboration with the government. It's really a continuation. It's a well-established tradition with the Government of Canada.

I'm not sure if that answers your question.

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

Yes, that answers my question, thank you.

Do I still have time available to me?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

You have 20 seconds.

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

Do you have any other partners for the project?

[Louise Pothier]

This project has a certain scope; we're talking about a project of around 70 million dollars. We'll be working with the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec. We are undertaking a private financing campaign. One of the main issues is operations.

The planned private funding is estimated at around 10 million dollars for this project. So, there are partners at every level.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Merci.

Mr. Simms.

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

I thought we were going back the other way again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Well, we started a new--

[An hon. member]

A new round after--

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

--round, so it was seven.

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

I think the last time we started a new round, it didn't.... Anyway, I just go by direction--

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

You have six and a half minutes.

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

Good Lord. That sounds like my ex-wife.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

I'm sorry. I said that out loud, didn't I?

[An hon. member]

Do tell.