Evidence of meeting #4 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was organizations.
A video is available from Parliament.
8:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you, Mr. Blois.
I have one final questioner, Mr. Aitchison.
You can pick up where you left off a short time ago.
8:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
I want to move on to a new topic. Again, it may not even be your department.
They do perform somewhat of a cultural role in our society, and they're summer camps. There are over 400 summer camps across Canada. I think they're culturally significant for young people. They cover a lot of areas that your ministry does, including sport.
I'm wondering if there's been any discussion amongst your ministry or other folks in your government about some kinds of supports within the context of all these other programs to support summer camps across Canada.
8:50 p.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I don't have the answer to that question, and I don't know if Hélène or Jean-Stéphen do. If we don't, we can certainly find that answer and provide it to you.
8:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
We don't have programs specifically for summer camps, but we have within Canadian Heritage some programming for youth, which, from time to time, depending on projects, could actually spill over to summer programs. We could look at providing you a more complete answer, but we don't specifically have a summer camp program.
We can give you information on what we do through our youth program, but I would have to get back to you in writing.
8:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Summer camps may be able to apply to specific programs for specific programs they're offering, for example. Is that what you're suggesting?
8:50 p.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
For example, there's the Canada summer jobs program. Summer camps would be eligible for that. That's a clear example, but in terms of Heritage per se, as Hélène was saying, we don't have programs to support summer camps. There may be instances under the youth branch of the department where we could do that, and maybe in another ministry such as tourism perhaps there's something. We would have to look into it.
8:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
There's some time left.
Mr. Rayes, I see that your hand is up. Would you like to take the remaining two minutes?
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
I have one more thing to clarify, and I may not use the two minutes I have. If other people want to speak, they can.
Mr. Minister, in a question I asked you earlier, I was asking you about the calculation of $830 million versus $1 billion, which you provided at the press conference and in the presentation.
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Right. I don't want to quibble about whether it is $830 million or $1 billion.
I would like to know whether it would be possible to have access to the calculation method you used or to the data you applied to the conventional media. Can we have access to that information, please?
8:55 p.m.
Liberal
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Would it also be possible to get those same calculations for the Canada Media Fund? I think they are public anyway.
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
If we could have that clarification, it would help us understand the dynamics involving conventional media and what you are trying to get, in a fair way, with respect to new digital media.
8:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
We will be happy to show you how we arrived at those figures.
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
That's great, thank you.
I'm done, Mr. Chair.
If other people want to speak, they can.
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
I didn't want to take up all the time that was left.
8:55 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Minister, I think we still have $18 million out of the $500 million that came out. Where's that going and will it be distributed before the end of the year?
8:55 p.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I can't remember if it's $15 million or $18 million, but it's in that ballpark, and yes, we are looking at how this money could quickly be reallocated or invested. Trust me, we're not leaving this on the table.
8:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you very much, everyone.
Mr. Minister, you are free to go. Thank you very much. I'm sorry about the technical glitches at the very beginning. Thank you for your extended time.
8:55 p.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, everyone, and have a nice evening.