Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In the interests of time and temperature, I will try to be under the five-minute line.
We are very pleased to be here. I'm John McAvity, the executive director of the association. We have approximately 2,000 not-for-profit museums and galleries all across Canada. They welcome about 60 million visitors each year, so they're enormously important and spread out, from large metropolitan cities to small rural communities. They're also extremely popular and are viewed very favourably by Canadians. In fact, according to studies, 96% of Canadians believe museums contribute to a better quality of life.
I believe I speak on behalf of all of our members when I say that we were very pleased with the federal budget of February 11, which protected the museum programs at the Department of Canadian Heritage and also at the Canada Council for the Arts, programs that are vital to the well-being of our country's museums. There are, however, two other issues that we would like to bring forward to you today.
The first is division 11, which amends the Museums Act of Canada in order to transfer responsibility for two programs, the virtual museum of Canada and online works of reference, to the Canadian Museum of History. Particularly, we are concerned that there was a lack of consultation. We did not see this decision coming, and there are a number of subsequent questions that we are awaiting clarity on.
As a national museum, the Canadian Museum of History is a world-class institution that adheres to the highest professional standards. We applaud its mandate of raising the profile of Canadian history and have no doubt about its capacity to deliver on these programs being transferred to it.
Our concern refers to clause 193, in which proposed subsection 9(3) states:
The Canadian Museum of History may support other museums or organizations that have a purpose that is complementary to its own
On the positive side, the transfer of these programs does represent an opportunity to renew and broaden these programs, integrating new forms of technology and helping the programs move forward. We do not want to see these programs be narrowed. We want to ensure that our nation's heritage is not restricted to historical artifacts or archival materials, as per the museum's role, but also through art, science, oral history, and other forms of culture. We argue for the very broadest definition possible.
I should also go on to talk a bit about the virtual museum of Canada, because it is an important program that supports museums across the country and teaches them the process of developing online exhibits as well as helping to digitize museum collections. We need to ensure that it and the other program being transferred are inclusive and accessible to the whole community.
A second matter of concern to our community is the recent changes to the cultural property review board in this budget. This is a very valuable program that assists in the protection of cherished historical items and encourages the growth of private giving in Canada. In the last two reported years, the board's permits and actions resulted in over 34,000 items of outstanding significance and national importance, valued at over $178 million in tax credits, being saved for the public good in our museums and galleries.
On February 11, the federal budget effectively closed down one donation model that some taxpayers had used. Some had used favourable tax treatments, fluctuations in values, and exemptions from capital gains to their advantage, all very legal activities. These shelters are now ineligible under the program. Some professionals are wondering what further changes may be coming.
The next part in Bill C-31 sees the authority of the cultural property review board being transferred from the Minister of Canadian Heritage to a new administrative tribunal. Again, there was no consultation. We were not aware of this change.
We are wondering where all of this is leading. Assurance is badly needed for the integrity, openness, and long-term stability of the cultural property review program.
We thank you for your time.