Government Operations Committee on May 28th, 2012

[Daniel Jean]

As we have said before, the cuts, the reductions that are referred to in the context of Library and Archives, come from the deficit reduction action plan, to which most federal organizations and departments have contributed. They have also come from some internal reorganization.

Of course, I'm sure that if you were to ask the archivist to come here, he would tell you that what he's trying to do is what I'm trying to do in my own department, which is to restore financial sustainability so that we can spend most of our time and energy focusing on our mission.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Would you like a minute, Pierre?

Go ahead.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Good afternoon. I know I only have one minute, but I will take the time that remains in the next round of questions.

I would like to talk about the games hosting program, funding for which has been increased by approximately $3 million. Is that related to preparations for the 2015 Pan American Games?

[Daniel Jean]

There is nothing in the 2012 main estimates concerning the Pan American Games, but there are votes in the supplementary estimates related to the fact that we are in the process of preparing for the Pan American Games. Sports funding remains the same. The deficit reduction action plan has had no impact on sports.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

What is the role of the games hosting program directorate in the holding of the Pan Am Games in Toronto?

[Daniel Jean]

It is not a directorate, but rather a hosting program. There are various types of hosting. There are the major events such as the Olympic Games and Pan American Games. As you know, we will be hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup in a few years. There are also intermediate and local events. The games hosting program enables us to support the communities that want to host these sports events.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

How many Sports Canada employees do you think will be working on preparations for the Pan Am Games?

[Daniel Jean]

We have formed a secretariat.

Mr. Hertzog, do you know the number of people?

[Robert Hertzog, Director General, Financial Management Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage]

The total cost is approximately $1 million. There will be 16 positions in that secretariat.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Your time has concluded. Thank you very much.

Ron Cannan is next for the Conservatives.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you for your intervention and for updating our committee.

I just wanted to pick up on a question from my colleague, Mr. Armstrong, on Katimavik. I was city counsellor for nine years before being MP for Kelowna—Lake Country for the last six and a half years, and I worked with some of the groups that came through. I wrote a letter of support a few years ago to keep the program in existence, but my understanding is that the request was made to the organization to look at revamping their structure to see other ways of generating revenue, maybe possibly having some of the students participate, but there was no other proposal. It was basically 97% or 98% funded through the federal government. Is that correct?

[Daniel Jean]

Most of the funding was still coming from the government, yes.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

And there were no other proposals presented?

[Daniel Jean]

No.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

As far as the deficit reduction action plan is concerned, you said there were 83 positions specifically for archives as a result of that review?

[Daniel Jean]

For archives, yes.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Overall it was how many positions?

[René Bouchard]

I talked about 1,150, but it's actually 1,115 positions overall within the organization.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Okay, thanks for that clarification.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the department moving forward through the next three years as we work towards a balanced budget?

[Daniel Jean]

You mean internally?

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Meeting the needs of Canadians.

[Daniel Jean]

That's why modernization and transformation is so important. We would like to be able to give easier access online to our clients and be able to process grants and contributions much faster than we are right now. We are still operating what I would call a system from the previous generation.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

My local art gallery, Kelowna Art Gallery, is working, like so many, in partnership with the community, with the city, and one of the areas the art gallery manager mentioned was the insurance aspect of transferring exhibits from one community or from the archives to the art gallery. Is that through the Canada Council for the Arts? Are there some programs for that, or is there anything you're aware of that can help the local art galleries?

[Daniel Jean]

Budget 2012 is basically proposing to double the contingent liability insurance for travelling exhibits, and it's in Bill C-38. This would allow the possibility to cover in a self-insurance way, like contingent liability, a lot more big and smaller exhibits throughout various museums, yes.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

That's great news. I think another reason why it's important is creating jobs. Arts and culture is a big economic generator for communities across Canada.

We talk about sports and recreation and arts and culture as a big component. Kelowna and the smaller community of Lake Country were selected as one of the cultural capitals of Canada. It's very important for the museum and the history.

We're very fortunate. On the weekend we unveiled a life-sized statue, six feet, eight inches, of Father Pandosy, the first Oblate missionary, who 152 years ago settled in the Okanagan. Thanks to a $49,000 grant from Heritage Canada, the community was spurred to raise over $100,000 for it for the historical society.

Is there that ongoing emphasis to help collaborate, as the chair, Mr. Martin, alluded to, as far as balance from the community, from partnership? Is there any type of formula you looked at in terms of working on grants and applications to see if there's a community appetite to help come to the table, such that if they were to raise 50%, 60%, or 70%, there would be encouraging Heritage Canada opportunities in the background?