Finance Committee on Oct. 22nd, 2009

[David Campbell]

We certainly recognize that the home renovation program is very simple. That's one of the reasons consumers are taking advantage of it versus EcoEnergy Retrofit. All we're suggesting is to review the program. If there's an opportunity to offer that program, that inspection could be part of the tax credit and how it's designed similar to HRTC.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Do you have a suggestion on how we can simplify it? Would your members perhaps do the inspection?

[David Campbell]

They would have to be qualified to do that, and some are doing that. Some of our members are actually taking courses and training to go out and do the inspections. Once they've done that inspection, the cost of that inspection is built into the cost of the retrofit of the home. That could be applied as a tax credit, similar to the HRTC. That's what we're suggesting.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Great, thanks.

Turning to the Canadian Network of Dance Presenters, Ms. Holmes, in your brief you're asking for an additional $40 million to invest in international markets. With the money that the Canada Council for the Arts has right now, are you allowed to apply for any money for international performances?

[Jeanne Holmes]

It's a very small amount.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

There's an amount in there already?

[Jeanne Holmes]

Yes, there is, but it's quite small and not in any way similar to what PromArt and Trade Routes offered.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

The reason I'm asking is that I've asked this question of other arts groups. The $40 million, should it not be also done through the Canada Council for the Arts?

[Jeanne Holmes]

Yes.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

It should be a separate fund and not be grouped with all other funding. Is that what you're asking? That's the request, right?

[Jeanne Holmes]

Yes, exactly.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Okay, thank you.

The next group is the Professional Writers Association of Canada, Mrs. Gulliver. The $30,000 you're asking for, you're saying it should be open to artists or people with artistic talent? What would your definition be? Who would decide who would be artistic?

There would be some accountants who would think they are artistic in how they prepare financial statements. I'm an accountant, by the way, by profession, so I regard myself as an artist sometimes. Politicians may regard themselves as artists as well.

[Tanya Gulliver]

As a former politician, I'd say there is an art to politics for sure.

I would say it's people who are deriving an income and a living from arts as opposed to those who are doing it on an amateur basis.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

So you would set up a definition of what an artist would be?

[Tanya Gulliver]

Yes. It could be a standard that you need to be making a certain amount of money, or it could be that it's your primary source of income or your only source of income, but it would include visual artists, dance artists, musicians, actors.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Other self-employed people have asked for the same thing, but I'm just wondering how limited a focus you would put just on the artists. So you would stay away from amateur artists?

[Tanya Gulliver]

We're not opposed to it being extended to other self-employed people. I think there's a challenge that exists when you are a self-employed worker and trying to survive, especially in today's economy, looking at what's happening even with—

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

So your definition would be professional, you're saying?

[Tanya Gulliver]

Professional.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

A professional, but not gaining enough to earn a living?

[Tanya Gulliver]

That would apply to almost all artists in Canada these days.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Interesting. Thank you.

Just turning quickly to the University of Toronto, Ms. Wolfson, we've heard this before, where you're asking for post-doctorate support. Other universities and higher educational institutions have asked for it, but how do you see it being administered? Would it be a separate fund?

The Conservative government just closed the millennium scholarship, so it couldn't be funded through that. Would it be through the universities? How would it be administered?

[Judith Wolfson]

There are a number of mechanisms that one could use--the Vanier scholarships, for example, or through the granting councils we have.

Frankly, I think the granting councils are probably the best bet. They already have processes in place for peer-reviewed, excellence-based. The Vanier scholarships were a tremendous new innovation, but they're pegged at a different level.

So I don't think the mechanism of delivery of the program would have to be new at all.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

The granting councils would have the ability to do that?

[Judith Wolfson]

They do now.