Canadian Heritage committee  To my knowledge, I believe all but two of the issues have been addressed. We take the special examination very seriously. In my time, the museum's is the third special exam that I have personally worked on. When I say two, there were something like.... How many recommendations were there, roughly?

Canadian Heritage committee  There were 25 recommendations. The overwhelming majority have been addressed, Madam Chair. The two outstanding ones essentially have to do with work that we're doing internally on some of our strategic planning, but the ones that affect the board in particular and corporate governance have all been addressed by the board of trustees and by museum management.

Canadian Heritage committee  This is a very welcome question, Madam Chair, and I'm delighted to answer it. First of all I would say to the member that one of the most important museums we work with is the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John. Jane Fullerton is a very good colleague of mine. The New Brunswick museum is the oldest continuously operating museum in Canada, by the way.

Canadian Heritage committee  Madam Chair, both of our museums have very robust websites. We're very active on many social media platforms. We have many virtual exhibitions, and we are also now responsible for the Virtual Museum of Canada. That was a project that was started by the Department of Canadian Heritage and transferred some two years ago to the Canadian Museum of History.

Canadian Heritage committee  I am very much aware of the online article that the member references. I'm aware of the tape recording that was, I understand, made in 2012. I wasn't at the meeting in question. I am not aware of the context in which the comments were made. I can, however, assure the members of the committee that in the 15 years that I have been in the museum corporation, in my experience or to my knowledge, I am unaware of any minister of the crown interfering in the content of the museum.

Canadian Heritage committee  I must say it's rather difficult for me to comment on the exact circumstances under which the board of trustees of our corporation, or the government, saw fit to reappoint me. I would like to think that it was based on the fact that I had performed well during what was essentially the first four years of my term.

Canadian Heritage committee  I believe that my appointment is based upon merit. I don't believe that my appointment is in any way a partisan appointment. I laid out to you, at the beginning of my remarks, that I began my career in the federal public service, where I have served continuously since 1986. I was hired to come to the museum corporation in 2001, and during that time I've served in at least three executive positions.

Canadian Heritage committee  Confederation is in, I believe, the second gallery. There are three galleries in the hall. Confederation will figure very prominently. It would be incomprehensible, as you know, to create a comprehensive exhibition of Canada and Canadians without reference to Confederation and the events that led up to it, so the issues, stories, and artifacts that will help to interpret those stories will be in the hall.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm looking to my chief operating officer with us here today. I don't have that number handy. We'll get back to you with the number. We don't have it offhand, I'm afraid.

Canadian Heritage committee  It is indeed. What I can tell you is that the Canadian Museum of History and the War Museum operate on essentially 80% appropriation and 20% commercial operations. It will be slightly higher this year for us because we've had a very good year. That tends to be the breakdown.

Canadian Heritage committee  We have had, since 2012, a campaign dedicated to Canada from 2014 to 2018. We've had, I believe, three exhibitions already. We have another exhibition that we're developing on the air war for the First World War, and it will be opening soon. We are working with partners across the country.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for your question. If you don't mind, I am going to answer in English for the other members of the committee. The member of the committee is correct, in that it's extremely important that we continue to be able to attract visitors to both of our museums in the national capital.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for your question. The museum is currently working with a few advisory committees that include aboriginals and experts. They are enhancing our understanding of the history of Canada's aboriginal and first peoples. That is crucial. We also have ties with aboriginal communities all over the country to ensure their history is showcased in an easy-to-understand format in the new hall.

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. For instance, we are working right now with members of Quebec's Algonquin community to figure out a way to promote the fact that the museum is located on their land, in other words, on Algonquin land.

Canadian Heritage committee  The museum, in a buildup to underlining the 150th anniversary of Confederation—I agree with the member that it's important to know that it is the anniversary of Confederation—we had an exhibition last year on the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada, the rebellions of 1837, in which we put together, for the first time in the museum's history, a truly political history exhibition on how those rebellions really contributed to what eventually became the Confederation of the country.