Canadian Heritage Committee on April 14th, 2016

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

As my last statement, I would point out that the last gold medal winner in golf was a Canadian. We have Graham DeLaet of Saskatchewan who, hopefully, will be in Rio, so we might win gold again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Mr. Waugh.

Now we'll go to Mr. O'Regan, for the Liberals.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I'll pick up on where my colleague was going. As you know, perhaps more than most, that runway you spoke about is getting shorter and shorter. We have 113 days before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and 146 days before the opening ceremonies of the Paralympics. How ready are we right now, in your estimation?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

That's a good question.

I'm excited about Rio for a couple of reasons. First of all, we're in a bit of a transition year. Many of our athletes retired after London, so we have some really new and exciting faces that we're going to see for the first time on the international stage. We have so many team sports that have qualified. Perhaps historically we haven't been as lucky in having that many teams. We have a lot of female teams, including women's field hockey and women's wheelchair basketball.

I think our athletes are ready. Our athletes are always going to be as ready as they can be. Quite frankly, regardless of the systems that are in place for our athletes, excellence is just part of their DNA, and they're going to be as ready as they can be. Our job is to support them as much as we can.

I think we're doing that. I think Own the Podium is doing that, and I think the national sport organizations are doing that. I think we're going to have some breakout performances in Rio, both on the Olympic side and on the Paralympic side. I'm not sure what the medal count will be. I think we're in a year of transition, and I wouldn't want to speculate. That's not my job. It's up to the COC and Own the Podium to make those predictions, but I'll be there.

I think we need to remember that qualifying for the Olympic or Paralympic Games is pretty darned impressive. About this focus on medals, on the one hand, I understand, as a competitor and as someone who went there and a couple of times who said, “Oh, so close”.... But being 12th in the world, being on the Olympic team and wearing that jacket for Canada, that's an impressive accomplishment in and of itself. We need to celebrate all of our athletes who make these teams and, as we sit on our couches and judge, remember that maybe 12th isn't such a big deal, but 12th in the world in any sport, in anything, is pretty darned impressive.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Let me ask you specifically about the preparation of athletes for the Games. Are there any security concerns on your radar that you're worried about going into Rio?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I would say not more than any other games. Rio is not the safest place in the world, but thankfully, we have a very strong relationship with the RCMP through Global Affairs, and with the COC and CPC. They do table-top exercises, and RCMP accompany the team. When I'm there, I will be surrounded by security.

As you know, there is an Olympic bubble, as we say. You move from event to event, from venue to venue. You're within the confines of the Olympic precinct, or the Paralympic precinct, and you don't stray too far from that when you're in that experience. Whatever goes on around you in the world, you're kind of in the bubble.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Let me ask you specifically about the Zika virus, because it has been in the news a lot in the past couple of days. Is that a threat at all to our athletes?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I wouldn't say it's a threat. I think it's something that we're aware of. We're working with Public Health Agency, we're working with Global Affairs, and we're working with the COC and the CPC so that our athletes and the medical teams have the best and most up-to-date information because they have to make choices.

I'm not sure how many of our Olympic or Paralympic athletes may or may not be pregnant, but we need them to know what the risks are if they go to Rio and to make their own personal choices accordingly. That's what is being advised, that if you are or might be pregnant, you shouldn't go. Athletes will have to make those choices.

I don't think it's a big threat for our teams.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

You're in a unique position because of your participation as an Olympian, so I want to ask you this. When you look at the role government played in preparing you then as an athlete and as an ambassador for our country, how are we doing now? It's 113 days, or 146 days, and it's probably too late to make any significant changes, but as we learn more and more what government's proper role should be, how do you see us improving in the future?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I think generally speaking we could use sport as a means and an end in government and in life. We focus a lot on sport as an end, but if we look at the power of sport to address broader social policy objectives and broader public policy challenges, whether it be childhood obesity, substance abuse, or isolation, I think it is our Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are the role models for potentially marginalized groups. I think there may be a way, as Public Health looks at combatting obesity and as we look at juvenile justice issues, we can use these ambassadors, these leaders, and these success stories to inspire other kids to be the best they can be and follow whatever dreams they have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

We've come to the end of our question and answer period, because we need to vote on the estimates. I want to leave us time to do that.

I want to thank the minister and the committee for a really good session.

We will allow the minister and her officials to leave and will then vote on the estimates.

Thank you.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Order, please.

Now we will go to the votes. We are going to vote on the main estimates of 2016-17.

CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

Vote 1—Payments under section 18 of the Canada Council for the Arts Act..........$182,347,387

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$927,306,798

Vote 5—Working capital..........$4,000,000

Vote 10—Capital expenditures..........$106,717,000

(Votes 1, 5, and 10 agreed to)

CANADIAN HERITAGE

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$183,944,057

Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$1,084,961,970

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$21,700,000

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$66,199,477

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$26,129,112

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$7,700,000

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$5,072,595

(Vote 1 agreed to)

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES OF CANADA

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$94,905,525

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$11,937,824

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE CORPORATION

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$79,397,056

(Vote 1 agreed to)

NATIONAL BATTLEFIELDS COMMISSION

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$6,461,761

(Vote 1 agreed to)

NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$66,412,180

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$22,380,000

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

NATIONAL FILM BOARD

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$61,894,820

(Vote 1 agreed to)

NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$35,888,410

Vote 5—Payment for acquisition of objects for the Collection and other costs attributable to this activity..........$8,000,000

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Vote 1—Operating and capital expenditures..........$59,979,776

(Vote 1 agreed to)

TELEFILM CANADA

Vote 1—Payments for the purposes set out in the Telefilm Canada Act..........$95,453,551

(Vote 1 agreed to)

Shall I report the main estimates 2016-17 to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I want to thank you very much.

Can we have a motion to adjourn?

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Mr. Van Loan,

The meeting is adjourned.