Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 5th, 2020

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I don't have those numbers in front of me. I can tell you that about 10% of the emergency funding did go to a special museum program, $53 million, and we provided additional funding for the national museums.

That was announced in August, I believe, Madam Laurendeau?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

Yes, in August.

There are two things here. There were, of course, revenue losses for the national museums that happened towards the end of the fiscal year. It was the reason we reacted, outside of the emergency fund, to provide additional funding to offset that lost revenue until the end of this fiscal year. So it looks like it's a downward trend with respect to their main estimates, but it was offset by additional funding in the realm of about $20 million, if I'm not mistaken, or $25 million. We can provide the exact figures.

That's how the interplay happened between what happened towards the end of the year and what we offset. It's something that is like the emergency funding but is outside the $500 million.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Going forward, will there be additional funding made available for not just the larger museums but also small museums across the country?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

It depends on how successful I am in convincing my colleague at Finance that it should be the case, but we're not quite there yet.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Please let us know if there's any way that we can help convince your colleague in Finance.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you very much.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We're there for you.

I'll ask a very quick question.

In my riding, I can tell you that the CBC is a deeply loved institution. One of the things that I always found interesting was that every time I had a McPherson sign, I also saw a CBC sign.

Can you explain why CBC/Radio Canada has not received additional funding since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I'm also a big fan of CBC/Radio Canada. I've confessed so publicly before. The CBC was able to redirect some existing funds to help compensate for some of the challenges brought on by COVID-19. We are looking at measures to further help CBC in the coming months.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

That's all for now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Shields, you have five minutes, please.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I will split by time with Mr. Waugh.

Thank you, Mr. Minister, for being here. We appreciate you and we always appreciate your staff. We met with them earlier, and they're fantastic.

I'm going to get very specific. It's to do with the new legislation. You talk about the Broadcasting Act engagement sessions with indigenous peoples on how to best support indigenous storytelling.

After the last meeting we had and I brought this up, you said the NAC had a piece that had been added, so I met with the staff there. They were two great people but they had no money, and this was before COVID-19. In my area is one of the most phenomenal stories that has been written and performed by indigenous and other students from high school. It's regionally recognized as a great, well-written performance. It really is a great piece.

When you talk about storytelling, that's an example of storytelling. Last time you told me that the NAC and the staff had no money. It's a play that needs to be performed in other places in the country. You now have this under your new piece called “engage with indigenous people” to support indigenous storytelling. How are you going to do that?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

As part of the reform of the Broadcasting Act, hopefully, once the bill is approved by the House, cabinet will send the CRTC a directive. We want to ensure that there's an increased level of funding for indigenous productions, francophone productions and other equity-seeking groups. Since there will be a large increase in the amount of money available for cultural productions in Canada, we're confident that this will happen.

Let me give you another example. It's not specifically related to broadcasting, but I'm also responsible for the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act. When we came into power in 2015, $5 million went to indigenous languages in Canada. That amount is at $40 million right now. It's going to be north of $50 million next year and at least $115 million...so that's 15 times what it was in 2015. Obviously, storytelling is intrinsically linked to language and culture. This is another way we're helping, by encouraging and making sure that indigenous peoples in this country can tell their stories.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I agree with you—

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Waugh, you have two and a half minutes, please.

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

Welcome, Minister and staff. Thank you very much.

I am going to ask you a question about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Minister, because of funding. Last month, reports emerged of nearly a 10% increase in funding for the CBC in the supplementary estimates. Is that number accurate and, if so, can you tell the committee what necessitated such a dramatic increase in their budget?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Hélène or Jean-Stéphen can correct me, but I believe there's been no increase in the CBC funding. I believe those media reports were inaccurate, unless I'm misunderstanding the question.

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

Were those media reports inaccurate?

[Jean-Stéphen Piché]

They are not identified in the supplementary estimates (B). There are no increases that have come through supplementary (B)s.

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

Okay, thank you.

The other issue I want to bring up tonight is CBC Tandem, the so-called sponsored content. I know it's currently on hold, but it is concerning that a Crown corporation that is supposed to be providing Canadians with reliable and fact-based data would be selling its credibility now to the highest bidder.

Since this is coming from the CBC, many Canadians would consider this being government-sponsored and approved news.

Can you give us some background on this and tell us if the department is doing anything right now—well, they've suspended it—to address CBC Tandem?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

The first thing I need to say is that the CBC is not a government organization; it's a public broadcaster. It's an independent broadcaster, an independent organization, with its own independent board.

As Minister of Heritage, I am not involved in the day-to-day decisions of the CBC. They make their own internal decisions.

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

Do you have any thoughts on Tandem?

I mean, they seem to be selling this.... They get well over a billion dollars a year, and now some of the former broadcasters are a little upset with CBC Tandem, like Peter Mansbridge and so on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Give a quick answer, please, Minister.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

To be totally honest with you, I've been a bit busy this week with the broadcasting bill. I have heard of the story you're talking about; it's not something I've had a chance to look into in depth.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you.

Mr. Louis, you have five minutes, please.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for being here, Minister, and all the panellists and guests. I appreciate your patience tonight.

I just want to start by saying, on behalf of athletes and artists from coast to coast to coast, thank you for your quick response in supporting a sector of our economy that's been so hard hit.

One thing we haven't talked about, and I thought I'd bring up, is that we have a strong audiovisual sector in Canada, in the Waterloo region and in my riding of Kitchener-Conestoga. There are writers, directors, actors, production companies and musicians. It's a whole ecosystem of talent.

Murdoch Mysteries, Anne with an E and The Handmaid's Tale were filmed right here in our region. I know they also support our local economies when they're here, and they help tell our stories.

You mentioned some short-term compensation. Can you expand on that? You mentioned you went through Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund. Can you tell about how we're supporting industry there?