Evidence of meeting #40 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I think my colleague is trying to do politics where there is not, but I'll make sure that my department officials give him the right answer.
Graham Flack Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
It doesn't reflect a cut in operating funds. It's the two capital projects, in both cases, that are coming off high.
In the case of the Museum of History, the Canada Hall was a major capital project. That is, the expenditures were higher in the previous years and are coming down this year, as planned. It's the same with the National Battlefields Commission. It was capital expenditures that do not stay constant every year and have come back.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Are there any other capital asks from those organizations that aren't being funded right now?
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Asks from those to entities that are not being funded right now.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
There are.
As part of budget 2016, $60 million over five years was allocated for capital backlogs focused on safety and other issues. That will be allocated between the major museums. That's an incremental amount coming in that's addressing some of those additional capital asks you've been describing that have been present, as you know, for some time.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
I find it interesting that it's the history that's getting short shrift.
I'll turn it over to Mr. Waugh, if I have any time left.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
If I may, Mr. Van Loan, I'll just continue answering. There are no politics to be done out of this.
The Museum of History was extremely happy, because we got into the budget the fact of dealing with an ongoing pressure on the museum, for years, that was never dealt with by the Conservative government, which was getting rid of the issue with PILTs.
Maybe my deputy could talk about that for a second.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
That was the other investment.
The payment in lieu of taxes, which is a payment made to municipalities in lieu of taxes, hasn't been increased since authorities were transferred to the museum. Although their tax payments have increased, the government allocation to the museums hasn't. Budget 2016 did deal with a catch-up on that, so that they could deal with both the backlog and the payments. The biggest beneficiary of that was actually the Museum of History, because they had the largest backlog in the payment.
That was the other one. I didn't consider it a capital investment when you asked, but it is an additional investment that will assist them in not having to deal with other capital pressures.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
The local municipality is really the biggest beneficiary.
Anyhow, Mr. Waugh.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Yes, I have a minute here.
I have to say that we were all blindsided yesterday with the announcement of CBC wanting an additional $400 million, including $318 million that would allow digital, radio, and television to have no advertising.
Could I have your thoughts on that? You're giving them $675 million over five years. The CBC president, Hubert Lacroix, was here, and he made no mention of it. Then, he blindsided everyone yesterday with the announcement that he is going to ask the government, again, for $400 million.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
As you all know, we're going through these public consultations, and CBC/Radio Canada decided to go ahead and present their own points of view when it comes to dealing with how a public broadcaster could play a role. They're independent, and they brought this important piece into the discussion. We'll study it, and this will be part of our revision of the entire cultural policy tool kit.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you, Minister.
Your time is up, thank you.
Now, Mr. Nantel, you have seven minutes.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister Joly, gentlemen, thank you for being here today.
Thank you for your kind words about the committee's work. All of us here are committed to and proud of working to improve the situation of regional media.
I am pleased to see that we will no longer have to hound the Minister of Canadian Heritage about collecting a sales tax on transactions, because there is broad agreement among the media on this tax. Everyone is talking about it. It is becoming commonly accepted and will make its way to the office of the Minister of Finance, and I am very happy about that.
I looked at the votes of supplementary estimates (B), and I am wondering if Carolle Brabant, of Telefilm Canada, has contacted you to say that the $2 million that was earmarked was not necessary.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Yes.
I commend you for having managed to obtain all of these amounts from the Minister of Finance or from Treasury Board, apart from Telefilm Canada, for which a small amount was set aside. I see that Mr. Flack wishes to answer.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
We are discussing supplementary estimates (B), and supplementary estimates (C) will follow.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
You must understand that there is still another period to come, around the month of March. Other aspects of the budget have yet to be confirmed. Obviously, that will be part of supplementary estimates (C).
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
It is urgent in their case. Fine.
I have asked you on many occasions about an independent appointment panel to staff vacant positions on the CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors as well as trustee positions with our national museums. Yesterday, you launched a call for candidates, which was well received. The same thing applies to the CRTC.
Just to tease you a bit, I would say that the Conservatives moved more quickly in 2006. They struck their panel and completed their reform in less than a year. The NDP pushed them, and it got done more quickly.
What news can we expect from you on this topic?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
As concerns the appointments, last week I launched a call to staff 45 positions in our national museums. This is the first time this has been done. I note that social media has reacted favourably. A number of people have participated in the process, as well, and continue to do so.
In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the new process to select directors for the board of CBC/Radio-Canada, as mentioned in my mandate letter.
Of course, we are reviewing all the appointments to ensure that our approach continues to be open, transparent and merit-based.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
My question concerns the government in general rather than your department in particular. Will this much-vaunted new approach to appointing directors to the various boards be announced as being the official process early next year?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
It was made public in a general fashion during the summer. These 45 appointments will be made using this new process, and that includes the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. We are moving forward.