Canadian Heritage Committee on May 16th, 2019

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You are more than welcome.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you for being here today.

As you mentioned, the Alberta Ballet had a beautiful performance last night with Joni Mitchell at the NAC. I'm glad to see the Alberta—

[Simon Brault]

I was there.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

It was a beautiful performance, and the combination with the Joni Mitchell music is fantastic. I'm glad to see that co-operation.

As you mentioned, there are some issues in the sense that it's a bit like the chicken and the egg with the money. If the money traditionally flows to certain markets, the artists flow to certain markets. If the money flows elsewhere, the artists will be elsewhere.

[Simon Brault]

I agree. I know that problem well, because before being at the council, I was the head of the theatre school for years and years.

The level of application and the level of theatre training in Alberta was, and still is, very strong. I witnessed during 30 years a lot of very famous artists who moved elsewhere.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Great, so—

[Simon Brault]

The question is that you need to have an independent scene that is strong enough to retain those talents, and that is what we're trying to build.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you.

You said the money goes by application, so the money has followed the applications to this point.

[Simon Brault]

Yes.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Could you tell me how many applications you received and how many were turned down?

[Simon Brault]

The success rate in Alberta right now is close to 42%, so it's quite good.

In terms of numbers of applications last year—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Is that an average across the country, 42%?

[Simon Brault]

In terms of the average, as I said, where we are right now, the success rate is quite comparable for project grants. For artists applying, the numbers are quite similar in Canada, so there is no type of discrimination in that area.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Right, but were 42% successful in Alberta?

[Simon Brault]

Yes.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Or turned down?

[Simon Brault]

No, 42% were successful.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Is that similar to the average in other provinces?

[Simon Brault]

That's more or less what it is. Let me find the exact number, but it's comparable.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

While you are doing that, do you have a connection with the NAC and funding to the NAC?

[Simon Brault]

No. We have a partnership with the NAC, but we do not fund the NAC. We partner on some projects. The NAC is a Crown corporation, and the Canada Council is a Crown corporation.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

The NAC now has a new staff person. There are actually two. Their role is indigenous performances.

[Simon Brault]

Yes.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Yet those staff have no money.

[Simon Brault]

I won't comment on the situation at the NAC, but what I want to say is that when I was at the launch of the season, I realized that almost all the projects that will be presented in the first season are supported by the Canada Council with our program.