Industry Committee on June 5th, 2007

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Do I have another minute?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Yes.

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I have a general question. I am sympathetic, Ms. Northcott, to what you said about athletes, but it raises a question.

Mr. Bean, has our athletes' financial situation improved? A lot has been said about the financial hardship athletes face. It seems clear to me that this bill will affect their financial situation. What is the current financial reality of our athletes?

[Jeff Bean]

I think that Roger might be the best person to answer that question. His project encourages athletes to continue with their sport—he pays for their coaches and improves their financial situation.

[Roger Jackson]

There's no question that there is considerable improvement in the opportunities for athletes to train and be financially supported. The Government of Canada provides a program called the carded athlete program, which supports about 2,000 athletes, and we, Own the Podium, preparing the athletes for 2010, have about another 300 or 400 of those same athletes who receive additional financial support. So because of this corporate sponsorship funding that we achieve, this $50 million that is provided by the corporate sponsors, we have the opportunity not only to provide living and other expenses, but as you have heard today, to also provide massage therapy, physiotherapy, physicians, more coaches, and better opportunities.

The Canadian team, three years ago, four years ago, was about ninth or tenth in the world at the Winter Olympic Games. It's number two in the world today as a result of about $40 million that has been spent over the last two years. So there's no question, out of the 80 countries that we're competing against, we've now gone by the United States, Russia, Norway, Austria, and some of the other superpowers in winter sport, and it's absolutely a result of the new financing that has been provided through this program. That funding was triggered by the Government of Canada and the corporate community agreeing to 50%-50% in providing the $110 million to prepare the teams for 2010.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay, thank you.

Merci, Madame Brunelle.

Thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for coming in and for your presentations here.

Members, we will be suspending for a few minutes and then we will be going into clause-by-clause of the bill itself.

You're certainly free to watch the proceedings.

We will suspend for a few minutes.

We want to thank you all for coming here before us. It's an honour to have an Olympian at our table. I know some members of this committee consider themselves athletes. There are two goalies on this committee, actually. I'm not sure they qualify as official athletes.

Mr. McTeague has what, 12 goals against average?

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Ah, the shame.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

We appreciate it very much, and you are welcome to stay.

Members, we will suspend for about five minutes, please.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

I call this meeting to order.

Members, we are here to give clause-by-clause consideration to Bill C-47. We have the room until 2 p.m. I don't know if we'll need it that long, but I'm letting members know that we do have this room until that time. Members should have a group of amendments before them, and I will be proceeding in the order the legislative clerk has provided for me.

I want to re-introduce the three witnesses. We have Ms. Susan Bincoletto, Director General, Industry Canada. She's with us again. We have Ms. Julie D'Amours.

Are you with Industry Canada, or with Justice?

[Julie D'Amours, Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Industry]

Industry Canada, Legal Services.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Industry Canada, Legal Services, okay.

And we have Ms. Darlene Carreau as well, also with Industry Canada, Legal Services.

Thank you all for being with us.

We will start with clause 1, the short title, which I am informed is postponed, pursuant to Standing Order 75(1).

(Clause 1 allowed to stand)

(Clause 2 agreed to)

(On Clause 3--Prohibited marks)

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

On clause 3, I have four amendments. The first government amendment, G-1, page one in your package, is moved by Mr. Carrie.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Where is that, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Do you have the package, Mr. Byrne?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

There we go. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Discussion is on G-1. Mr. Carrie has moved it.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Chair, I've certainly read it, but I'd like the parliamentary secretary to give some definitions.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Mr. Carrie, you can provide the rationale.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Basically, this was asked for by the athletes, to clarify that they can use the term and the title that they so rightfully earned. It's pretty much straightforward there.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Is everybody agreed?

(Amendment agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Now we have NDP-1, which is page 3. Mr. Masse, perhaps we can get you to speak to that.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is simply to add “electronic media”, to ensure that broadcast and publication in electronic are specifically identified. This was supported by VANOC during their testimony here, and I believe it will further clarify that the use of electronic media and the Internet for basis of discussion, not for commercial use, would be a benefit to add to the bill to provide further clarification.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

I want to read the comments that I'm provided with by the clerk.

NDP-1 has a line conflict with G-2, so if NDP-1 is adopted, we cannot proceed with G-2. But it is possible that G-2 could be moved as a subamendment to NDP-1--for people's information.

Now I have Mr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

We're supportive of Mr. Masse's amendment, but of course for G-2, we'd have to take the clerk's recommendation there. I think that would be wise.