Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

This is a direct quote from the individual who spoke from the stage.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

You're insinuating that it's journalists who are going to spin stories positively for the Prime Minister because they “have [his] back”. That's entirely false. These are producers of shows like The Littlest Hobo, for God's sake.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

I'll now turn the floor over to Mr. Al Soud for six minutes.

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's great to see you, as always.

Minister, of course, I offer a warm welcome to you. Thank you for being with us today.

Given the relative recency of your appointment and that this is your first appearance, I'd like to give you the opportunity, first and foremost, to speak to your top priorities for Canadian Heritage in 2026 and how these supplementary estimates reflect those.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

In the context in which we are all living, where our Canadian identity is under threat, we need to make sure that the arts and culture sector is well supported, as it has been in the past by the Canadian government.

We can't and shouldn't be the funder of everything in the sector. There is a role for private industry in making sure that Canadian identity and the beauty that is this country are shown through the way we consume media. That is an ever-changing ecosystem, but the Canadian government has to be there. It includes funds for the big shows, small shows, arts and Canada Day celebrations that are so important in waving the flag, particularly in this context.

We're making sure, first and foremost, that the modest sums that we give from Canadian Heritage to these organizations are well used to wave the flag, to show stories—good and bad—about who we are in this country. Also, in this context, this important pillar of democracy, the media, is under a constantly evolving ecosystem that we are adjusting to make sure that the traditional sources of information are well supported so that people are getting truthful information they can consume, so they can judge their politicians or society accordingly. That's part of what I meant in answer to the question posed by your colleague about social cohesion.

The future of the CBC/Radio-Canada is extremely important, both in my role as the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and in my role as the Minister responsible for Official Languages, because of the role that Radio-Canada plays in making sure that information gets out into smaller francophone communities, principally in places outside Quebec. That's key.

As the ecosystem and the environment that we are in are evolving, we also have, as I mentioned, the task of making sure that our kids are being protected from online harms and that we, as a government, play a role in making sure that those platforms are responsible. I anticipate that this will be a significant challenge for all members of Parliament, but particularly this committee, over the next year.

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

I've bragged about this directly to you before. Celebration Square is in my riding, very firmly in the middle. It's a beautiful opportunity for people to come together to celebrate the incredible diversity in our country. In my community, cultural policy drives employment. It drives creative industry growth, tourism, and small business development.

I want to latch on to something you said early on, this idea of reflecting the beauty that is this country. Cultural policy is often both celebrated and, at times, scrutinized. At a time when many Canadians are focused on affordability and fiscal responsibility, rightly so, there is heightened sensitivity around public spending.

How do you respond to concerns that cultural spending is disconnected from everyday realities, or that there are bigger concerns or bigger priorities than festivals at Celebration Square, for instance?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

It's a good question.

The fundamental question that any of us in this position need to ask themselves, regardless of the role they play, is what is the role of the state, what is the role of the federal government in any policy that it undertakes, including the funds that it provides to organizations, for example the many cultural organizations in your riding. Mississauga is so diverse. It is a thriving, growing community that you are a proud representative of—and you are on the younger end of the spectrum, I've noticed, so there is a long future for people like you in politics. We need to be able to nourish the mind, and that includes all the cultural organizations that you represent.

If I had more time, I could fire off all the lists of things that Canadian Heritage finances, on both sides of this table, and it would be a pleasure to do it because those organizations are the heartbeat of this country. When you're funding an anti-racism strategy in Mississauga, you're raising awareness as to what the challenges are about diversity and inclusion. When you are funding a Blackfoot cultural initiative in Ms. Thomas's riding, you're raising awareness of the issues that the Blackfoot people face in and around the Lethbridge area.

Those are small examples of the work that we do. Otherwise, if they didn't have funds from the Canadian government, they would struggle to have their voices heard. This is about people making their voices heard within their communities and, when we do it properly, across the country.

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

That's a perfect segue to my hopefully short final question.

Canadian Heritage is uniquely positioned to create opportunities for young Canadians within the creative sector, whether that's someone who's looking to be the next David Myles, or someone who's deeply passionate about video games at large.

What role do you believe federal policy plays in supporting equitable access for these young Canadians, making sure that they have these opportunities in those sectors?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Yes, it's a challenge for young people, including my parliamentary secretary, David Myles, who has a song that has well over a million listens on Spotify. I listened to it the other day. Not many of us can claim that type of fame, and he shares the honour of having a Latin Grammy.

He could probably talk to you at length about the struggles that he faced in making sure he could make ends meet, including getting financing. However, when I've talked to David—and I don't want to put words in his mouth, particularly because he's here—I think he didn't expect handouts. He expected to work for the small sums that were provided from various levels of government. It's not just Canadian Heritage that provides tax credits of various nature.

Younger segments of the population have challenges in accessing these programs, knowing and being aware that they are there, particularly in an environment where things are ever-changing. I spoke to a bunch of YouTubers. Given what they were doing—not everyone has access to government funds, nor should they—they weren't aware, even though they were wildly successful, that they would have some funds available for them to even multiply the earnings that they were making, and that's actually good for the economy in the end.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Thank you, Minister.

We now go to Mr. Champoux for six minutes.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, my thanks to you and your officials for being here this morning. It's always a pleasure to see you.

You're heading off to Paris soon. You're attending the UNESCO meeting next week. In June of last year, Mr. Guilbeault, your predecessor, raised the possibility of establishing a protocol to support the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, so that governments could adopt better laws in the digital age.

Can we expect you to support the proposal for a protocol that could be adopted at the 2027 meeting?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

To give you a very clear answer, I will tell you that the final decision is currently under consideration, so I don't have a definitive answer for you now, at 8:30 this morning.

That said, having spoken to Mr. Guilbeault, I know that he did a tremendous job during the last session to save the ship, so to speak. As you know, this potential protocol does not have unanimous support, and I'm sure you would agree that an effort like this in the digital sector requires everyone rowing together. Otherwise, the results will be mixed.

Let's just say things are looking positive, and I took note of my counterpart Mathieu Lacombe's position on the matter. I believe we will be supporting it, but we are in the process of finalizing our position.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit surprised. The meeting is less than a week away. It's actually happening next Wednesday. I can't believe you haven't had a chance to fully develop Canada's position on the issue. I'm really surprised that you're telling me the truth when you say that you don't have an answer.

People in the culture sector are anxious. We spoke to them yesterday, and I think a number of them are optimistic, but they are very nervous nevertheless. We are talking about a protocol that is essential to protect cultural industries in Quebec, given its cultural distinctiveness, and in other jurisdictions. Europe is supportive, from what I've heard.

I think it would be very reassuring for you to confirm here and now that you intend to support the potential protocol and help develop it as quickly as possible so it can be implemented in 2027. A lot of people would be happy to hear you take a firmer stance than that this morning, Mr. Miller.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I will say this: There is reason to be optimistic. I don't want the position we take to be a political exercise. I want everyone rowing in the same direction, but the fact remains that we're talking about a potential protocol that does not have unanimous support, far from it. Regardless of our position, there will be work to do, in co-operation with the other member states, to make sure the protocol is effective, if it is adopted.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

If the European Union and Canada got behind the proposal, it would represent a fairly strong consensus. There is strength in numbers, so their support would help legitimize the idea. Do you agree with that?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Yes, indeed, but for the time being, it's speculation.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

All right. We'll know more next week, and we can be optimistic. I think some people will be happy to hear that.

When it comes to digital companies and their contribution to cultural industries, how are things going? We worked very hard to put legislation in place. The CRTC is developing rules as quickly, or as slowly, as its workload permits.

As far as digital giants and their contribution to our cultural ecosystem goes, are we going to get there in the end?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Let's hope so, but unfortunately, the U.S. has identified the issue as a trade irritant. The fact is that the laws our government has put in place to ensure the availability of Canadian content or Quebec content, as the case may be, are very important. I'm not saying things are perfect, far from it, but a lot of companies are making changes to address the Canadian content requirements and promote Canadian identity across the country.

As for the contributions for that purpose, you know as well as I do that they are the subject of a court challenge.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Your government got rid of the digital services tax in the hope that it would facilitate trade talks. It didn't work. On the contrary, we're dealing with someone who is completely unpredictable.

Don't you think that, at some point, we have to stop looking at culture as a potential irritant, that we have to put policies in place, that we have to stand up and protect our industries, our jobs and our cultures?

I'm getting tired of hearing that we have to tread carefully because it's a sensitive issue for the Americans. They don't feel the need to tread carefully when it comes to sensitive issues for Quebeckers and Canadians. They put up obstacles every step of the way.

Don't you think we need to say, let's get on with our own business, let them think what they may, because we are going to protect our citizens and put the necessary mechanisms in place to do that? In particular, that means making digital companies, which earn billions of dollars here, contribute to our system.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Yes. It's important to point out that neither one of us is at the negotiating table. I won't comment on how the talks are going, because discretion is very important. One of the reasons for the arts and culture investments we made in the budget was precisely to make sure that those working in the sector are supported. It's not as though we were hesitating. The decision to suspend the tax was made by the Minister of Finance, as you know, for reasons having to do with the negotiations, and I can't comment on what is being discussed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Thank you.

Mr. Waugh, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon South, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Welcome, Minister. I've seen a lot of ministers come through this heritage department over the last 10 years.

Mr. Bilodeau, congratulations on moving up to the deputy spot.

I'm going to talk about the missing indigenous art, because I think that was the last time department officials were here. I bring it up because, actually, yesterday I got a call from Cobourg, Ontario, and the person was kind of distressed about the way it was handled by the federal government, which washed its hands. I understand there was no legal obligation, really, to notify the artists of the disgraceful misplacement of the cultural contributions, but, Minister, do you feel that there should be a moral obligation over this missing indigenous art, over the number of decades that we've had?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Thank you, Kevin. I do believe there's a moral obligation. Any time you receive art or sacred items from indigenous people, it is something that has to be treated with extra care.

On the details of this—and I know you probably want to hear from me—I would probably accord a few minutes to Andrew, who has a little more detail on it, if that's okay with everyone.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon South, SK]

I can get to you in the second hour too, but, very quickly, Andrew, I wonder whether the department set up a public notice. You washed your hands. We're missing the art. When we look at it, it's very minimal—$49,000—but how are we going to let the public know? It could be in an attic. It could be in a basement somewhere. I think we have an obligation to the artists to let them know that we haven't washed our hands completely of the missing indigenous art.

Go ahead, Andrew.

[Andrew Brown, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage]

Thank you for the question.

I would say that, certainly, we need to respect the cultural value of this indigenous art, irrespective of how it may be assessed in terms of monetary value.

I believe you're making reference to the audit of indigenous art that was conducted and led by Indigenous Services Canada. Just on that, it's work that continues, in terms of that accounting and being able to track down those pieces of indigenous cultural property—