Government Operations Committee on May 28th, 2012

[Daniel Jean]

Canadian museums are still very popular. Like all museums, they have an impact on tourism during hard times.

One need only think of the Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada. Last week there was an incredible lineup. The gallery admitted 2,000 people on the first day. Our museums in the provinces and regions are generally doing well. Times are tough, of course, but they are tough for all organizations.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

That is all the time I have.

Thank you, sir.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Thank you, Bernard.

John McCallum, you have five minutes.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you.

Thank you all for being here with us this afternoon.

I'd like to focus a bit on the Library and Archives. There's a CBC story suggesting that I think 400 people have received notice that they will be losing their jobs—that 20% of the workforce is to be let go. Archival collections in various departments are going to be closed down altogether.

I wonder if you could confirm whether this is correct. What is the state of the cuts, in both dollar terms and jobs?

[Daniel Jean]

In the context of the deficit reduction action plan, the Library and Archives is affected, like many organizations. The head archivist is trying to both meet the need for all organizations to contribute to the deficit reduction action plan and at the same time modernize the way archives are done.

Library and Archives, like most of our portfolio organizations, is an independent organization. It would be very difficult for me to go into more details on the plans of the organization. I think it would be easier if you were to invite them.

If you want some high-level descriptions of where the changes are, I can ask René to describe them.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

I'd like to know, first of all, what are the dollar cuts and the job cuts?

[Daniel Jean]

Go ahead, René.

[René Bouchard, Executive Director, Portfolio Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage]

With respect to the dollar cuts in the context of the deficit reduction action plan, or DRAP, after three years it's a reduction of $9.6 million for the organization.

Going back to your initial point about the number of positions that may be affected, the organization is also doing its modernization, so there are some changes within the organization that are not necessarily related to DRAP. The organization is making some changes that will affect about 435 positions, and 200 positions will be abolished, but that includes DRAP plus modernization. When we're looking at DRAP only, it's 83 positions that will be abolished.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Okay, so it's $9.6 million and 435 positions.

What's the initial budget? What percentage cut is that?

[René Bouchard]

The initial budget of the organization in 2012-13 is $114.2 million.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

And the jobs?

[René Bouchard]

The number of jobs is 1,150, if I recall properly, and I can provide you with more precision on that.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

So starting with 1,150 jobs, 435 of those will be cut.

[René Bouchard]

I'm saying that of 1,150, there will be a total of 200 positions cut, and 83 of these positions are related to DRAP.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Where does the 435 come in, then?

[René Bouchard]

The 435 is about the number of positions that may be affected. That doesn't mean the position will be abolished. The position is affected, and then you keep a certain number of positions and people apply for the position.

The number of positions that will be abolished will be 200.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

That's close to a 20% cut in staff. I mean, part of the function of this group is to serve researchers to preserve our history. Do you think they'll still be able to do that with cuts of this magnitude?

[Daniel Jean]

I think it would be better if you were to ask that of Mr. Caron, the lead archivist.

The one thing I can say, from having discussed some of these reductions with him, is that one challenge he had a few years ago was that almost 90% to 95% of his budget was personnel. When you reach that level in an organization, and in modernization it needs to rely on technology, and there are other things—it has to pay for the roof and things like that—it becomes very difficult. Every time you hit a bump, you have to let people go.

That's one of the reasons he's had to look at some internal challenges on top of the deficit reduction action plan. But I think he would be in a better position to answer these questions.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Can you tell me how much money the government is spending to commemorate the War of 1812?

[Daniel Jean]

Yes. I think it's $27 million. It's over three years.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Maybe this is a political question that you're not prepared to answer, but I find it a bit strange that we're spending $27 million to commemorate the War of 1812, which has little impact on Canadians—or Canadians have little memory of it, that's for sure—and we're spending nothing on the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Can you say anything about that choice?

[Daniel Jean]

I think that would definitely be a question for the minister.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

That's what I thought.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

That's your last question too, I'm afraid, John. Thank you very much.

For the Conservatives, Mr. Jacques Gourde.

You have five minutes, Jacques.