Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chair, you would have to recheck with the minister. I thought I heard him say, and perhaps I'm mistaken, Mr. Cash, that he thinks he speaks to me about once a month. I certainly don't meet with the Minister of Canadian Heritage once a month.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would not be able to tell you that, Mr. Cash. The most I see the minister is socially at exhibition openings and cultural events.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much for the question. Mr. Chair, we did not ask Canadians if they thought that the mandate should be changed. Our view was that the government had introduced a bill in the House, that there is the likelihood of the bill becoming the law of the land. We felt that

Canadian Heritage committee  You're asking about a code of ethics for the acquisition of material. I would say our collecting is guided by a number of policies that are common to museums across Canada and around the world. That would be an accurate answer, but as for a specific code of ethics, the answer wo

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chair, the first part of the member's question concerned the acquisition of the Empress of Ireland itself. First, I would suggest that Mr. Philippe Beaudry, the diver, is considered to be the legal owner of the objects from the wreck according to the Receiver of Wreck in Can

Canadian Heritage committee  The members of the committee studying this bill know—and I don't think I need to direct you—that clause 9, I believe it is, immediately following the mandate statement, discusses research and collecting, and the powers and authority of the museum at length. I understand there is

Canadian Heritage committee  Again, world cultures in history are specifically mentioned, I believe, in the mandate statement proposed in the act. This has dogged us a little bit since day one. There was an earlier media report that said the museum would no longer undertake international exhibitions and part

Canadian Heritage committee  I can also talk, Mr. Chair, as someone who used to manage that program. I worked in the Department of Canadian Heritage in that area for some five or six years and managed that along with several other programs. The indemnification program was, is, and as long as it is there wi

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I'd be happy to do that. I certainly can tell you that the museum went across the country for a period of about four months, from St. John's to Vancouver, in nine centres, and met with groups of Canadians in those centres. We mounted kiosks in urban centres. We had an onlin

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chair, I thank the member for the question. I'd like to begin my answer by saying that I fully understand the concerns of Canadians when changes are made to their memory institutions. I've been around a long time, having worked in cultural and social policy for the Governmen

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, committee members. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to discuss Bill C-49 and the proposed establishment of the Canadian Museum of History. I believe the proposed changes will strengthen our institution and greatly enhance it

Canadian Heritage committee  I'll be brief, Mr. Chair, because I know a number of important questions have been asked. I might just tackle them a little bit in reverse, and then I'm going to ask my colleague Jean-Marc—if that's all right—to respond to one of them. To answer very quickly, we have developed a

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the committee, good morning. I am pleased to be able to meet with you today to discuss the role of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation in the commemorations leading up to Canada's 150th birthday. The corporation comprises two mu