Canadian Heritage Committee on June 4th, 2019

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

How many times has an official of the Canada Council for the Arts been to Edmonton or Alberta, to your knowledge, in your historied career?

[Sheri Somerville]

I have been aware of two visits, and they were for three-hour workshops by junior-level bureaucrats.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Over how many years is that?

[Sheri Somerville]

It's over the last 25.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That's two visits, amounting to about six hours in 25 years.

[Sheri Somerville]

Yes. They're usually workshops to unveil new platforms and how to fill in forms.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

What does this tell you about the kind of understanding the CCA might have about the reality of Alberta arts right now?

[Sheri Somerville]

What it tells me is that the CCA is not interested in a relationship with Alberta. We want a relationship with the Canada Council for the Arts. We believe in the Canada Council for the Arts. What we want is our place at the table. We want to be taken seriously. We are tired of being disregarded as the regions. We are tired of being looked at as less than.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

What was your reaction to Mr. Brault's stating on the record and on television that he will come to Edmonton and participate in a round table that I am happy to moderate?

[Sheri Somerville]

Oh, my reaction was that I can't wait, and I look forward to meeting him.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you both very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Thank you very much.

We will now go to Mr. Yurdiga, for five minutes.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to thank the witnesses who are joining our study.

This is very frustrating from the perspective of me and my colleagues. There is an inequity from coast to coast to coast. It seems that the money migrates one way and it's usually communities like mine that are really not recognized for the amazing talent that is out there.

I'd have to agree with my colleague across the floor, Randy, that there is a problem and we have to do something to change it.

My first question is for Adam.

Thank you for joining our study. Over the years, we've seen hundreds and hundreds of comedians change their direction and move to another market, the U.S. market, and it seems there's not enough support from the Canada Council for the Arts for comedians. From my perspective, comedy is an art form.

Do you think more Canadian comedians would stay in Canada instead of going to the U.S. market if there truly were support for our artists on the ground?

[Adam Growe]

Well, the support would have to come from all the facets of public support programs. The Canada Council for the Arts is just one avenue for a population within the comedy community across the country.

There would be other streams for artists who want to reposition themselves, but indeed, our president, Sandra Battaglini, has spoken about the comedy scene in the country. This applies to comedy artists—improv, sketch and stand-up—who live in Alberta and are susceptible to the same geographical restraints, for instance. This is systemic for the entire genre of comedy across the country. Sandra calls it a circle of entrapment. There's only so far you can go into Canada, into Canadian entertainment, and find support for innovative voices or boundary-pushing work as well.

So artists either quit, give up, or they do go to countries where there are opportunities. We want to change that, but not only through other funding programs. We've never even had a voice or seat at the table at all, ever, at the Canada Council for the Arts, and we think this is a great place to start, and one of our first initiatives was to get the government to recognize comedians and comedy as art in the country.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you.

At this point, is the art form of being a comedian not recognized as an art form?

[Adam Growe]

Everybody we talk to in government and in industry and the many people, the thousands of people, we talk to in public spaces all seem to agree, “Of course comedy is art. Isn't it already recognized as an art form?” The government has told us in response to our e-petition to have it recognized officially by the government, that they already support humour through the various funding for spaces, training and presentation.

Our point is that, especially without the opportunity to even apply to the Canada Council for the Arts, there's no funding directly to comedy artists. There's funding for presenters of festivals. There's funding for training facilities. There's funding for the construction and renovation of spaces. Those are all vital and very important, but individual artists don't have an opportunity to receive funding directly. We're told to go to the Canada Council for the Arts and apply as theatre artists, and then, very similar to what Sheri was describing, the message is that we're not valid, that we're not artists, and we don't count.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you.

My next question is for Sheri.

In your experience, you've seen a lot of talent and amazing performers coming through the doors. Have you seen a migration of performers moving to where the money is? How is that hurting communities such as yours?

[Sheri Somerville]

Oh, absolutely, we see a drain of people following the funding. It's a famous thing. People will say, “I have to go to Toronto; I have to get this produced” or that there's just more work there. I think part of what Toronto is suffering from right now is a glut of migrated artists out of a province. Then, of course, it diminishes relationships that have been built, both for those artists.... We've seen many, many artists follow funding and ending up not employed in those centres, and then it's too expensive to come home. I know many careers that have ended after people have left thinking that they would stand a better chance in another province.

It hurts our local economy, and it demoralizes artists who feel that we are a launching pad for a national career, especially someone like me, who has had a national and international career, and I am proud to remain in my community. I have the experience and the wisdom to know that you can duke it out from wherever you are, but not every artist does.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I have 15 seconds. You mentioned merit and excellence a number of times. Is that the arts council's definition?

[Sheri Somerville]

It's from the assessment jury and then from the executive who makes the final funding decisions.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Okay, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Thank you very much.

We now go to Mr. Nantel for five minutes.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much to all the witnesses.

I must admit that I was surprised to note that the Canada Council for the Arts did not at least provide a response to what was said yesterday.

Mr. Cardinal, I believe I saw in the news, yesterday or today, that you were up for a Sterling Award. Congratulations.

Do you receive support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for your participation in the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival? Has the Canada Council for the Arts provided support to that festival in the past?

[Hunter Cardinal]

I apologize. I was desperately trying to understand—

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Okay, there's no issue.

I was congratulating you because you've just received some Sterling award nominations.