Evidence of meeting #3 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 sector.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm looking at the second page.
Are you telling me that the Conservatives had two separate five-minute rounds and the Liberals had two separate five-minute rounds?
5:05 p.m.
The Clerk
That is correct, Madam Chair.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Okay. I am sorry. It didn't seem to be that way. That's kind of interesting.
Before I go to Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Bittle for those two rounds.... These are very interesting rules, I have never worked under these rules before.
Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas, and then Mr. Bittle for five minutes each.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, I'm sorry, but I am going to raise a point of order. This is not my talking time. These are not my questions. This is simply a point of order.
Madam Chair, you just spoke to my colleague Mr. Housefather and then me in a very belittling and condescending manner when we raised a point of order, which is valid in nature and has been validated by the clerk. The least you could offer is a sincere apology. That was absolutely inappropriate for you as chair.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I apologize, Mrs. Thomas, and I apologize, Mr. Housefather. I was going by the rules that I had in front of me. I did not see those two names. I thought there was only one round for the Liberals and one round for the Conservatives. Those are the rules I have worked under as chair, but I now find out there are different rules for this committee, so there we go.
I am sorry, and I very much apologize.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I understand, but you can be respectful in your interactions with us going forward.
Thank you.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I apologize, Mrs. Thomas.
We are going to begin. I don't know that we're going to have a lot of time to go to a fourth round.
Mrs. Thomas, would you like to speak for the second round that you missed?
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I have a point of order, Madam Chair, given that intervention.
I think Ms. Lewis took that slot and we should probably move on. I think there was some agreement in the room that we swap the slots, since the Conservatives went that additional time.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Are you suggesting, Mr. Bittle, that we go into a fourth round where it begins with the Conservatives, which could be [Technical difficulty—Editor] and then it goes to you, who would be the Liberal? Is that what you're suggesting? I'm a little confused by your suggestion.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Maybe the clerk can chime in, but I think the suggestion is that it's our slot at this point and I would carry on.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
5:05 p.m.
The Clerk
I'm not sure what, exactly, Mrs. Thomas, you'd like clarified.
In your speaking slot, Ms. Lewis did go for the full duration of five minutes. In this second round of questioning, it would be a Liberal slot next. Then we could begin the third round of questions, but again, that's entirely at the discretion of the chair.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Given that Ms. Lewis spoke for five minutes, I will go to Mr. Bittle for five, please.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you so much, Madam Chair.
I'd like to turn to Mr. Julien.
I don't think we've had an opportunity to hear from you. I was wondering if you could talk about the Canada performing arts workers resilience fund and how you see that impacting the sector.
5:05 p.m.
Director, Research and Development, Canadian Association for the Performing Arts
Thank you, Madam Chair, for the member's question.
I think this fund is absolutely needed by the sector. We've heard from every single witness today about the specific needs of self-employed workers in the performing arts, so there are multiple needs that this fund can meet. Based on what I read in the guidelines, which just came out two days ago, besides immediate emergency income support to begin with, the fund can also intervene in terms of providing training to the sector, but that's an area where I am personally slightly concerned.
If we think about the shortage of skilled workers among IATSE members, for example, if we have so few of these workers, how can we expect those who are experienced workers on the ground to be available to train newcomers? I am skeptical about the possibility of this program to solve the labour issues that we have within the time frame that is a part of the program.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you so much.
Mr. Lewis, I'll ask you the same question on the resilience fund, please.
February 2nd, 2022 / 5:10 p.m.
International Vice-President and Director of Canadian Affairs, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
It's part of a broader conversation because many people who work in this industry fall within the cracks of a lot of government programs such as EI. I know the government is looking at EI reform, and we really have to take a good look at that in terms of how it impacts gig workers and people who don't fit within the traditional definition of employee. We really need to look at the broader picture and how we can bring stability.
The resilience fund will help. It's not income support, just so we're clear, but it will help to keep people in the industry. We're looking at health contributions that would otherwise be provided, because people are losing their health coverage now under the various union health plans. It's looking at training. It's looking at mental health. There is going to be money spent for that and for training. Training is something we do all the time. It's not just a COVID-related practice, and we're going to continue to do so. But we are concerned.
There's a long-standing history of senior people who train junior people coming into the industry. It's not done in a classroom. It's typically done on the job, and if you lose that experience subset, it's very difficult to bring people in in a timely way so they can take over the reins. It's something we are focusing on as we move forward.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you so much.
I'll turn back to Mr. Julien.
Mr. Lewis talked a lot about additional supports and I liked his idea about insurance, but I was wondering if you could talk about what you see that the industry needs beyond the supports that have been provided by the federal and/or provincial governments.
5:10 p.m.
Director, Research and Development, Canadian Association for the Performing Arts
We think at the Canadian Association for the Performing Arts that a ticketing subsidy program is definitely worth considering. There is a lot of uncertainty ahead of the sector in terms of possible further waves of the pandemic, in terms of audience hesitancy. Even though venues are allowed to reopen at full capacity, we know for sure it will take a while before we can fill those venues as we did fill them before the pandemic. Any kind of program that would be flexible enough to make up for that gap in earned revenues for the sector would absolutely help.