Government Operations Committee on Nov. 29th, 2012

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

Has the $5 million already been spent?

[Daniel Jean]

The $5 million is being spent by the organizing committee of the Grey Cup. We have a contribution agreement with them. We're coming to the appropriation now that explains, because we needed to negotiate the thing....but it has not necessarily been paid yet, right? It really depends on what payments come when they provide the program that it had been developed for, you.

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

Okay. I guess I'm expressing a bit of a concern that it seems you've spent the money before Parliament has approved it, or maybe that's normal.

[Daniel Jean]

As much as possible, in the best of all worlds, we always try to avoid that. But because of the way the appropriation system works, it does happen that you have money at risk like this.

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

Okay.

I notice that your “Promotion of and Attachment to Canada” envelope took quite a hit: $24 million, or roughly 30% of last year's budget. My understanding is that cancelling Katimavik accounts for $14 million. What else was cut to make up the remaining $10 million?

[Daniel Jean]

In that program, there was Katimavik.... In terms of the reduction that was announced in the budget, in that program I only see Katimavik.

[A voice]

Yes—

[Daniel Jean]

The others are adjustments to other budget items, but they have nothing to do with the deficit reduction action plan.

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

So where do they come from, then, for the remaining $10 million?

[Daniel Jean]

In that program we have some other programs, such as lieutenant-governors and other programs that are yearly projects, but in terms of reductions that were done in the context of the budget, under the document, I think there's a small amount in Canadian studies, which was money that had never been reallocated, and the other one is Katimavik, the one you mentioned.

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

Okay.

In terms of the Museum for Human Rights, you're requesting $43 million. When that museum was announced in 2007, the government committed $100 million, and I think it was thought that it would receive $9 million in ongoing annual federal funding. What is the unforeseen need that led to this $43-million request?

[Daniel Jean]

To be clear, the commitment of the Government of Canada to the construction is up $100 million, and it hasn't changed. The notional allocation for operating funds is $20.7 million. It's notional, of course, because they're not open yet, but that's what has been provided. What is being asked for through the supplementary estimates here is an advance on future appropriations to provide them with the flexibility to complete the museum. They've done fundraising and they have pledges that will be collected over a number of years, but in order to complete the museum by 2014, they require financial flexibility.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

You have 30 seconds, John.

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

Okay.

How much has been spent to date on this museum?

[Daniel Jean]

The total cost of the museum, once it is completed, is now $351 million.

Do we have the number for what has been spent to date...?

If we don't have this, we'll be happy to provide it to you.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Actually, John, you will find that in the package put together by our wonderful researchers. The total to date is $109.6 million; it's on page 4 of your research paper.

For the Conservatives, Peter Braid.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our guests from the Department of Canadian Heritage for being here this morning.

Monsieur Jean, at a high level, my impression is that over the last few years there has been a greater focus at the department on promoting an understanding of Canadian history, including in our school system. Is that a fair assessment? Could you elaborate a little bit on that and why that is?

[Daniel Jean]

You're correct, Mr. Braid. As we march towards 2017, the 150th anniversary, and also given much interest expressed by the public in having more information provided on history, we are trying, through existing programs and our commemoration program, to give people access to familiarize themselves with history.

As you probably also know, the minister made an announcement about the renaming of and the adjustment to the mandate of the Museum of History. That's all part of efforts to try to give people a chance to better familiarize themselves with history.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Thank you.

I have a question about the annual funding to the CBC of $60 million to help enhance Canadian content and Canadian programming. There was an earlier question from my colleague, Monsieur Gourde. You confirmed that, after a little more than a decade or so, that annual allotment to the CBC will expire.

I realize that there's no one from the CBC here, and I approach this question as someone who supports the mandate of the CBC. After more than a decade of $60 million in annual funding—or for over $600 million or so—could you speak to how Canadian content and Canadian programming have been enhanced at the CBC as a result of that investment?

[Daniel Jean]

I think that of course, the CBC is doing a number of things every year to try to create good Canadian content. In the case of of your question, I think they would probably be better placed to judge, or the public in general would probably be better placed to judge, than I would be.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Thank you.

I have a couple of questions about the Governors General foundations. There is a request in the supplementary (B)s for a funding transfer or new funding of $2.5 million for the Hnatyshyn Foundation.

I have a couple of questions, both specifically about the transfer and why it is necessary, but also, if you could speak a little on this subject, about these foundations generally. It looks as though each former Governor General establishes a foundation at the end of their service to our country as a Governor General.

Could you speak about the mandate of the foundations, why they're created, where the funding comes from, and whether they are completely taxpayer-funded or there is some private sector support? Also, specifically, speak to us about the $2.5 million and why it was earmarked.

[Daniel Jean]

You're absolutely correct that the foundations are usually created when the mandate of a Governor General is over. They are created as a legacy. They usually have different themes, depending on the legacy initiative that the departing Governor General would like to pursue. In the context of the Hnatyshyn Foundation, it's about arts and culture.

There is usually a combination of public money and fundraising money, very often in the context of matching. In the context of the Hnatyshyn Foundation, when it was created, there was a $2.5-million conditional grant, and they also raised $2.38 million. What is being sought through estimates today is something that was announced in budget 2012, for an additional $2.5 million.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Thank you.

Finally, just to help clarify and confirm the bottom line, total requirements with your supplementary (B)s are roughly $26 million and you're applying savings of $18 million, for a total request of about $7.5 million. At the end of the day, will the Department of Canadian Heritage be spending more or less money this year than last year?

[Daniel Jean]

I'll let Rob answer, but first of all, you're right in the preamble to your question: the net is an additional $7.5 million. There's a number of reductions that amount to so much, and there is new money that has come in because of events like the Pan American and Parapan American Games.

Now, on the issue of how it compares with last year, Rob...?