Veterans Affairs Committee on June 17th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you.

Mr. Kerr, go ahead for seven minutes.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

You'd like to have your own time on this, Mr. Chair, wouldn't you? But you don't get ours.

Thank you very much, gentlemen. It's good to see all of you again. There are just a few things I want to raise, but first I want to thank Mr. Whitham again for our own family's personal experience. For anybody who has a chance to get an intimate tour of what goes on there and how it works, I can say that it's incredible.

There are a couple of things. Ron, I'd just like a comment first on the general thing. I should point out, by the way, that Ron lives in the wonderful constituency of West Nova--

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Oh, here...[Inaudible--Editor]

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

--and he is not known as a shy individual. But you should remember that Ron has been part of the review committee and so on that looks at the charter, and he has some very strong views on what we should move on, as you heard hinted at today.

I'd really like to stress the fact that this is the first meeting we've had on what I think is a wonderful initiative by our colleague. To your point, Ron, I want to stress that we're going back at this in September, and we're going to take your advice very strongly.

We encourage all those who have an interest out there and who have not been heard to take the opportunity. We hope you'll pass the word along that we'd very much like to hear from them. You may want to react to that quickly.

[Ronald Griffis]

Without question, I will. As I said, I've been away from home now for seven or eight days, and as soon as I get back over the weekend, as you know, with e-mail, within a matter of minutes, information like this will be right across the country, and there will be reaction to it.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

I appreciate that. As I say, I emphasize that when we're back in September, this process will continue. We're not trying to rush anybody on anything.

Mr. O'Neill commented on the impact on the museum. I know that it's not the intent of the sponsor of the bill to change what is the legal system of the land. I agree with you that perhaps that wording should be looked at carefully, because this would in no way supersede the authority or the independence that the museum system has.

I think we might want to seek advice through the committee process, and perhaps Gary may want to follow through as well, on how we can make sure it dovetails so that we're not interfering, including in budget matters. I don't think that was the intent at all. There is also the time factor. I think that's an important point we probably would never have thought about.

There is something I'm wondering about, though, as a concept. Peter won't be surprised that we philosophically disagree. That's why we have different parties. But we're in the real world, and the fact is that there is a value in medals, whether it's distasteful or not. They are being sold, and families sometimes like to have the right to do what they want.

I know that you can't get into details of the bill, but do you sense that it's a right kind of initiative to put out there, that it gives people a chance to reflect on the importance of medals and memorabilia and perhaps helps the educational process? Could you give just us some general comments, please?

[Mark O'Neill]

Certainly what I can generally say to you, Mr. Kerr, is that I think the War Museum, as a collecting institution focused on our national military history, welcomes any sort of discussion that focuses the attention of Canadians on our national military heritage. There's no question about that.

I really hope I'm not sounding aloof in some of my responses to you. You can appreciate it's difficult for me to comment on the policy dimensions of the bill you're studying. As we've stated clearly, I would certainly say that we know the spirit, the intent, of this bill is certainly a positive one. I would say that any discussion that engages Canadians in a dialogue of the importance of preserving any aspect of their national heritage is indeed a welcome discussion in any museum in Canada.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Thank you.

Are there any other comments on that?

[Ronald Griffis]

I echo that. I think it's great to get the information out and it's great with respect to our schools and history. I accept that without question and I echo his comments.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Thank you very much.

Do I have time left?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

You do, Mr. Kerr. You have two and a half minutes.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

I'm going to turn it over to my colleague, Mr. Mayes, then, for the rest of the time.

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

That was just one of the questions, actually, that I think covered it.

I was looking through the book. Thank you very much for the information on the museum. There was a line item for a collection acquisition, so I just thought about the question about a royal writ for this bill. It didn't make a lot of sense because there are funds allotted every year in your budget to accommodate that. Is that a correct assumption?

[Mark O'Neill]

Yes, Mr. Mayes.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, of which the War Museum is an affiliate, has only recently established what we call a national collection fund, and I think that's what you're referring to. It may not be that explicit in the document that you have with you, but the fund is, I believe, about three to four fiscal years old now, and we are building it. I believe that right now it sits at about $1.5 million.

Those funds are to service the collecting needs of the Museum of Civilization as well as the War Museum, the War Museum being one museum discipline, really. The Museum of Civilization probably has about seven or eight disciplines in everything from anthropology to cultural studies, etc.

So it's a pot of money, most of it raised through fundraising activities, that is intended for both museums to use.

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Is there a committee or board that reviews the merit of any acquisitions? Because you have to set priorities. Could you foresee that maybe there would be a problem if the museum had a stronger desire to collect more of these medals?

[Mark O'Neill]

Both museums in the corporation have their own acquisition committees, so there is indeed an established policy and practice. Collections managers work with historians or curators in terms of the kinds of acquisitions they would like to have. I don't foresee anything in the bill, as I understand it, that would change this particular practice at all.

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. Mayes.

Mr. McColeman, you have 28 seconds.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Thank you.

I have just a quick question. Thanks for passing it on to me.

As I had mentioned to the proponent of the bill, there are other ways to acquire these. I know that it's distasteful for Mr. Stoffer, but it is a fact that they are being sold, and other individuals and organizations can provide the resources and the money to do that.

I'd like your comments on that. Is there a model here that can be broadened, other than the government having to pay out the money?

[Mark O'Neill]

Which is the Victoria Cross, Jim, where the school raised money across the country and there was a great deal of community interest?

[Jim Whitham]

It was Shankland.

[Mark O'Neill]

We're just commenting about the Robert Shankland medal, Shankland being one of the three from Valour Road in Winnipeg. There was a very interesting movement of groups and individuals across the country that came together to raise money to help purchase a medal. There was a school group in Winnipeg that was quite active and there were even other groups across the country.

So certainly you do see it. This is simply a statement of fact. You do see communities, groups, and individuals coming forward to say, “We want to participate personally in helping to preserve this”. It does happen. There doesn't appear to be any particular model. Some donors are very happy to receive a tax certificate, tax relief, while others are interested in a mix of sale and donation.

There are many different ways in which it's done. Certainly, the museum has been involved in quite a number of those, along the lines I just described.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. O'Neill.

I have an announcement at the end of the meeting that may elicit comments from members, so please try to keep it tight right now to a three-minute round.

We'll go to Mr. Oliphant.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Thanks again.

Mr. O'Neill, I have a couple of quick questions.

When the museum issues tax receipts for donations, do you have a chart based on value that you use to give the tax receipt?