Evidence of meeting #121 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subamendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
I call this meeting back to order.
It has been agreed by all parties that we will move to the main estimates for the second hour, and we will push Bill C-316 to next week.
The procedure is that we will have six-minute rounds of questioning.
We welcome David Dendooven, the assistant deputy minister. Thank you for joining us.
We also have with us Joëlle Montminy, senior assistant deputy minister, along with Mr. Ripley and Ms. Mondou, both of whom have stayed. Thank you to the departmental officials.
Thank you, everyone, for agreeing to look at the main estimates for the second hour.
We will start with a six-minute round of questions from the Conservatives.
Mrs. Thomas, please go ahead.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Perfect. Thank you so much.
I'm just curious about a panel of seven multimedia experts that has been put together with regard to the CBC. Anything I've read says they were appointed by the heritage minister. I'm curious about what criteria were used for their selection.
Isabelle Mondou Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The criteria the minister highlighted included having people with expertise in various topics regarding CBC/Radio Canada. That's how she selected the panel.
She was also conscious of having people from different backgrounds, including people from Quebec. I think those were the criteria she used, as she mentioned earlier.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Okay.
Are those criteria written anywhere where they could be read?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The terms of reference are public, and they highlight the expertise and the review mandate. We would be happy to share that with you and the committee.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Perfect. Thank you. If you could send that to the committee clerk, that would be great.
Conservative
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Thank you very much.
My questions will focus on the journalism labour tax credit.
Budget 2024 announced an increase of the yearly limit on labour costs under the Canadian journalism labour tax credit from $55,000 to $85,000 per eligible employee, and a temporary increase of the tax credit from 25% to 35%.
What is the rationale for limiting the increased credit to a four-year period?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I'm afraid that is a question for our colleagues at the Department of Finance, who are responsible for taxation.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Does the government believe the financial difficulties of Canadian journalism organizations will improve after that period?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I missed the end of your question. I apologize.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Excuse me.
With regard to the four-year period, I understand you didn't want to answer the first question, and that's fine.
Is it because your department believes the ills currently affecting Canadian journalism will be cured after four years? I'm just curious about that.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Chair, I cannot speculate as to how my colleagues at finance decided on the four-year period. They often take policy from different horizons, so it may be good to ask them why they decided on four years.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Who decides which journalists benefit from this credit and who decides which journalism organizations qualify?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
A process was established when the tax credit was created a couple of years ago. It's an independent committee at the Canada Revenue Agency. Independent members apply a definition that was established to define who qualifies as a journalist. That process has been in place for a couple of years.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Thank you.
Who appoints this panel?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Again, it's not my responsibility. It's really that of the Canada Revenue Agency, so you may want to ask them that question.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Do you know if information with respect to the panel is publicly available?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
I can certainly inquire, and we can follow up with the committee.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Thank you very much.
Do you know what the cost, the tax expenditure, is for the credit?
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
My understanding is that the finance department may have that information. I certainly don't have it. Again, maybe it would be a good question to ask them.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
I'm a little surprised, because the estimates are supposed to be about finances. Respectfully, I thought that you would have some of that information, but as long as you're willing to provide it to the committee, that is fine.
We'll have to wait for another day to find out who appoints this panel and who is on this panel. I'm very interested in that information going forward.
Those are all the questions I have.
