Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[Blair McMurren]

Our programs are clearly important to the sustainability of arts organizations in the different things they do. We are part of a policy dialogue with the arts sector on emerging forms of support, like social finance approaches and the role of philanthropy, and kind of growing the pie in terms of the funding that's available to build their sustainability for the future.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I think the philanthropy piece is concerning to many of these arts organizations, because I think they feel like they're competing for the same dollars, which is a shrinking pot. In an age of rising costs and space and capacity needs, I think many of them are struggling. I hope we continue to connect with them and look at ways to support them.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Thank you, Ms. Royer.

Mr. Champoux, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Bilodeau, you're from the Department of Industry, aren't you?

[Francis Bilodeau]

Yes.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

You know that people in the cultural sector have long been calling for a review of the Copyright Act. There's a broad consensus on it in the cultural sector, and even at the Department of Canadian Heritage. Everyone agrees that the act needs an in‑depth review and update. However, we've always known that this matter was being blocked at the Department of Industry.

Please tell me that they went to get the person who was blocking this at the Department of Industry and brought them to the Department of Canadian Heritage, and that now, the Department of Industry can agree to review the Copyright Act.

[Francis Bilodeau]

I wouldn't say I was blocking it. It's useful for us to have an internal dialogue, because we also understand the concerns of certain sectors, including the academic sector, as well as the desires and concerns of the cultural sector, among others. I think the government has already committed to artist resale rights. We're actively working on that.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I have to move on quickly, because I don't have much time.

There are different realities. You mentioned the academic sector, and I think industry also has other concerns when it comes to intellectual property and copyright.

Don't you think this act should be split so that it can be adapted a little more effectively to the cultural milieu's changing realities in the digital realm? That way, those realities can be managed separately, so that things move forward for the cultural industries, at their desired pace?

[Francis Bilodeau]

Splitting the Copyright Act is an interesting idea that I haven't explored. The department is actively discussing how the act could be modernized. So I always like to hear the committee's perspective.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Are you exploring how copyright will be applied in the world of AI? It's a concern that comes up a lot, and it's a very real one for content creators and others.

[Francis Bilodeau]

It's absolutely a concern that we're looking into and it will be part of the dialogue that Minister Solomon and Minister Miller are going to have in Banff in a few weeks with representatives of the AI and cultural industries.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Madam Chair, I think I have three minutes left. Is that correct?

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

No, you only have a few seconds left.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

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

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon South, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm going to go back to indigenous art. I need confirmation here. Are there going to be ongoing efforts to locate the missing indigenous art, or are we going to call this a closed case? I was happy to hear that there is a moral obligation to let the artists know that their cultural contributions have gone missing, but I need to know, because our offices have people wondering where this case is. Is it ongoing, or are we going to close it for good?

[Francis Bilodeau]

Mr. Waugh, I appreciate your bringing up the question—

[David Myles, Liberal, Fredericton—Oromocto, NB]

I have a point of order. I'm sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Mr. Myles, do you have a point of order?

Go ahead.

[David Myles, Liberal, Fredericton—Oromocto, NB]

It's a point of clarification. It was Crown-Indigenous Relations that we spoke to when they were here. It's a different department.

I just wanted to make sure there wasn't confusion. That was who we spoke to. It wasn't this department. As long as we're clear on that—

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon South, SK]

It still goes through Heritage.

[David Myles, Liberal, Fredericton—Oromocto, NB]

It doesn't. I think it's actually in Crown-Indigenous Relations.

That's just to clarify. Thank you.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon South, SK]

Okay, thank you.

Mr. Bilodeau, go ahead.

[Francis Bilodeau]

Again, I appreciate your bringing this to our attention, and I'm happy to have conversations with my colleague at Crown-Indigenous Relations.

The point I was going to make is that it is a matter that was identified through an audit of Crown-Indigenous Relations. I understand that they are in the process of ensuring a follow-up on that.

I don't have an update on that, but I'm happy to talk to my colleague.