Canadian Heritage committee  It can be project funding, as long as the projects can extend over a multi-year period. Right now, there's a very short timeframe, so we need something we know we have over the long term.

Canadian Heritage committee  Planning, absolutely. Museums need to know on a two- and three-year basis, if not five years, what they have in terms of grants.

Canadian Heritage committee  It was level in terms of having criteria. How the criteria were applied across the country, I'm not sure. I've heard different things. In terms of the competitive process, that is essential. As my colleague says, we can't fund all museums, so we need some mechanism to determine

Canadian Heritage committee  One of the challenges in addressing that question is that there are no restrictions on the use of the term “museum”.

Canadian Heritage committee  So anyone can get a building and call themselves a museum. We do have definitions at the national level and at the international level of what a museum is, but they're never enforced. So there have to be some criteria at some level to say, “You know, what you're doing is great.

Canadian Heritage committee  If I can just respond very quickly, another benefit of an arm's-length body is transparency. One of the frustrations I've had with this process is that the criteria for eligibility for projects are not consistent across the country.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, I mean across provinces in terms of who can apply for what. I know that for a fact, from first-hand knowledge. So in using arm's-length bodies, we can ensure there are clear, transparent criteria for grant applications and adjudications, and it takes the politics out of t

Canadian Heritage committee  I've been told different things.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would echo John's comment. In my brief I mentioned the need for peer juries, and I fully believe that, but as a member of an organization that has been an arm's-length funding body for museums in Alberta for almost 20 years, I can tell you that the process is very effective and

Canadian Heritage committee  To put it in layman's terms, we've been there and done that. You will not hear anything different on consultations any more. We would have been very clear in the last consultation, and delaying this process any further will not give you any new information.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for the invitation to speak today to this committee. It is greatly appreciated. I also want to start by thanking the MP for Peace River for introducing, a few meetings ago, the motion to study museums. We thank you for that. Canada is blessed with a rich and colourf