Evidence of meeting #13 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 artists.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Gabriel Pelletier  President, Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec
Mylène Cyr  Executive Director, Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec
Sarah Iley  Member of Steering Committee, Canadian Arts Coalition
Jacoba Knaapen  Member of Steering Committee, Canadian Arts Coalition
Marie-Christine Morin  Executive Director, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française
Brandon Gonez  Chief Executive Officer, Gonez Media Inc.
Alexandre Alonso  Executive Director, Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Aimée Belmore
Gabrielle de Billy Brown  Committee Researcher
Marion Ménard  Committee Researcher

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

All right.

We will begin with Mrs. Thomas for five minutes.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My question is for Mr. Gonez.

Thank you so much for being here and for providing testimony with regard to the important work you do as a digital-first creator. I find it really interesting, and I believe you're producing important content. In addition to your YouTube channel, you also have a news show called News You Can Use. I've had a chance to take a look at some of your stuff. It's intriguing and I'm inspired by your innovative approach.

As my first question, I'm hoping that maybe you can take a moment and explain to us some of the challenges you had to overcome in order to achieve success as a digital-first creator.

4:40 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Gonez Media Inc.

Brandon Gonez

Thank you for that nice message.

I would say that one of the biggest challenges for any digital creator in Canada is probably access to resources, because the level playing field basically isn't level if you are not tied to legacy media. With a lot of the funding programs, if you are looking to start up and innovate, for example, it doesn't allow you to access that funding unless you're certified through a traditional legacy broadcaster.

But the reality is that what we found in just the last year of operating is that the audience has drastically shifted. If you're looking to connect with Canadians, most of the audience actually lives online. In the traditional space, the audience is continuing to decline.

The biggest challenge with starting up any type of media endeavour in this country is access to resources, whether that's marketing or equipment, all of those things. Getting over that hurdle was probably the biggest challenge. I was fortunate enough to have resources available to me, whether that's networking resources or financial resources. I had a lot of resources that a lot of other digital-first creators don't have access to.

If you're looking at the biggest challenge, again, I would say it's access to resources to create a substantial digital platform.

March 30th, 2022 / 4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Gonez, I can appreciate the challenges you faced. You highlighted that it is certainly not a level playing field. The current government is claiming that with Bill C-11 they're going to level the playing field, but under this bill they'll be requiring people such as you, digital-first creators, to contribute to the art fund. Right now under the CRTC, that requirement is 30% of revenue right off the top. That's not 30% of profit; that's 30% of revenue.

They're saying that a measure like this will help to level the playing field, but they haven't clearly said that in the same way you pay into it, you'll be able to pull out of it. Under the current terms, there's actually no allowance for that. So they're happy to take your money, but they won't be happy to give any of it back in the form of grants.

I'm just wondering how something like this might hinder you as a digital-first creator.

4:40 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Gonez Media Inc.

Brandon Gonez

For any creator right now in this country looking at the ecosystem, the frameworks that are being developed right now and what the government is considering.... If you live primarily on digital—that's where you live and breathe and that's where you've built your audience—the hope is that if there is any legislation where we are going to draw money from digital platforms, whether that be YouTube, Meta, TikTok or whatever, this funding will go back to those same digital creators, who are technically exporting an immense amount of Canadian culture to the world.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

You have one minute left for the interchange, just so you know.

4:40 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Gonez Media Inc.

Brandon Gonez

As a digital creator and somebody who came from the legacy space, I think what is so fascinating is that the barriers that were once in place to export what we as Canadians believe to be entertainment, art, news and essential information are no longer in place. What is so amazing is that, with these digital platforms, we can reach a global audience without those financial barriers, for example, of building up a whole network. It's right there at our disposal.

What I'm here for, and what I would hope everybody is taking into account, is that we have an opportunity to be a leader and an innovator in the world and create an ecosystem where we can have global content creators and artists who no longer have to worry about reaching Canadians from coast to coast to coast, but can easily access a worldwide audience.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Thank you so much, Mr. Gonez.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much for that input.

Now I'm going to the Liberal Party and Mr. Anthony Housefather for five minutes.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to thank all the witnesses for coming today. All of you are inspiring in terms of the work that you do. Thank you very much.

Given that these hearings are on the Status of the Artist Act, I'm not going to deal with Bill C-11. I'm going to deal with the Status of the Artist Act.

I'm going to start by talking about the FCCF, an incredible organization that I've had the pleasure of working with on several occasions.

Ms. Morin, I know all the work your organization does for the francophonie across Canada, and I thank you for that.

In your speech, you mentioned the essential nature of arts and culture, particularly within the Canadian and Acadian francophonie. What do you mean by “essential”?

4:45 p.m.

Executive Director, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française

Marie-Christine Morin

I thank you for your encouraging words.

I say that this role is essential in the sense that the arts and culture community is a pillar within the Canadian francophonie that contributes to ensuring the sustainability of the French language, which we are trying to preserve. As you know, the effects of the pandemic have hit the sector very hard, and it is still struggling to recover from this forced shutdown. The recovery is very gradual. We have lost players along the way. Many of them have decided to change professions. So there is a major labour shortage throughout the sector, which also affects the Canadian francophonie.

As to why it is so important to recognize artists and the key role they play in a community, when an artist or a cultural arts organization in the Canadian francophonie disappears or is at risk of disappearing, it is in many cases as if the heart of the francophone community stops beating. The possibility of living one's culture in French is jeopardized. This was, so to speak, the central issue of this pandemic. For us, it was a question of ensuring that this ecosystem could survive the harmful effects of the pandemic.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

As a person from the English‑speaking community in Quebec, I agree with you wholeheartedly. What keeps communities together, especially remote communities, are schools and culture.

In your view, what amendments should we make to the Status of the Artist Act?

You don't need to propose amendments to only this legislation. If you have recommendations for other legislation, please feel free to submit them to us.

4:45 p.m.

Executive Director, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française

Marie-Christine Morin

Thank you for the question.

I'll talk about the Status of the Artist Act. However, first I want to say that changes must be made to the employment insurance system. Consultations were announced. The FCCF has been involved in them over the past few months.

The employment insurance system must be opened up to self‑employed and contract workers and to people with intermittent jobs. They currently don't have access to this social safety net. Significant changes should be made to the system so that these workers are fully recognized and able to benefit from the Canadian social safety net. This path should certainly be explored.

In addition, the idea of a guaranteed annual income should be considered. The CRB and CERB showed that guaranteed income support gave our arts community the chance to survive and breathe more easily during this pandemic. I think that this idea must be considered.

I'll address the Status of the Artist Act. I want to make three quick points.

First, the definition of a professional artist should be reviewed. As one of my colleagues said today, the review should be based on the international treaties signed and on the definition given by other funders, such as the Canada Council for the Arts. Second, there should be an obligation to deliver in relation to the socio‑economic conditions of the people covered by the legislation. Lastly, everything should be consistent, since all provinces and territories have status of the artist legislation. The review of the federal legislation should ensure consistency.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Thank you.

I think my time's up, Madam Chair.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much. My goodness, that's really on time.

Now we have moved forward, and we've ended the 10 minutes that Mr. Nater suggested we take. I suggest that, with unanimous consent, we suspend until everyone has voted and we are able to come back to this meeting.

Thank you.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

On a point of order, Madam Chair, by the time we get back, it is unlikely that we would be able to ask any other questions.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Mr. Julian, I think I have to seek unanimous consent.

Mr. Nater suggested 10 minutes. If you want.... We have Mr. Champoux and then you. That's another 10 minutes. As you well know, you have to have the ability to vote.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Yes, absolutely.

I think the clerk can tell us what the count is right now.

4:50 p.m.

An hon. member

We have 15 minutes.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

That's cutting it close.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

That's cutting it very close, Mr. Julian. I'm sorry.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Okay.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

If everyone hurries to vote and come back, we may be able to finish this round and maybe get one more round.

Don't forget that we have 10 minutes of business at the end of this.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you.

We will suspend.