Canadian Heritage committee  In 2012, when we appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I was asked what major issues were facing Canada. At that time, I said there were two: one was the place of religion in the public sphere; the other was the relationship between the Canadian government and the aboriginal peoples.

Canadian Heritage committee  The fund was created in 1988 following an agreement with Canadians of Japanese origin. Discrimination against them reached a peak during the Second World War. Racism and discrimination against them and against those who did not look like the majority of citizens continued. However, the worst example of racism in our country was the treatment of Canadians of Japanese origin during the Second World War.

Canadian Heritage committee  And yet, in 1988, Canadians of Japanese origin were among the best integrated citizens in our society. They were very successful, with a high standard of income among the highest of any ethnic group in the country. It's a success story. However, the Japanese-Canadians wanted to ensure that what happened to them couldn't happen again.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would like to add something. In Halifax, when we held the award of excellence dinner, there was a special session dealing with aboriginal issues in the Maritimes and with black Nova Scotian issues in the Maritimes. The challenge for us is to continue to maintain contacts with all these groups across the country.

Public Accounts committee  My main comment is that I don't know what information is available back that far. I just joined the board in April and I haven't looked at records that go back past last year yet. My only answer is that I don't know what information exists, what's in the file, what's in the records.

Public Accounts committee  Of course a legal framework is required to show that racism is not allowed. This is very important. However, it is through everyday practice that racism will be eliminated. Legislation will help to reduce it but will not eliminate it. When we talk about everyday practice, we are talking about people’s attitudes towards one another.

Public Accounts committee  As far as the appointment of members is concerned, I think this is the normal way of going about it, as is the case, if I am not wrong, with all crown corporations. Given that we are a crown corporation, this is the only way of doing it. In fact, we have had the support of the minister in several cases concerning our work.

Public Accounts committee  You all know of course that currently there are federal budget cuts being made because of the financial situation. In such situations, it is true that every agency has to examine the way in which it spends public money and do the best it can to ensure that expenditures are made efficiently and effectively.

Public Accounts committee  It is not as crucial as education or health for all Canadians, but it is an important issue that has to be dealt with. For me, what is very hard is that racism cannot be eliminated by the government. Every individual in Canada is responsible for eliminating their own racism and that of others.

Public Accounts committee  I think we have evaluations of each of our activities. That surely exists. I know that because I just looked at one from the award of excellence dinner.

Public Accounts committee  Well, that would basically look at the success of the event itself: who it reached, how it reached, comments on how we could do better in the future, the impression of the people who participated, who they are going to take the information to, that kind of thing. That's the kind of evaluation we have.

Public Accounts committee  We are constantly focusing and refocusing our activities. I mentioned that, I think, already. We've already refocused our activities to things that we can do with the resources we have. Does that mean we should change the mandate? That would be acting too soon because perhaps in the future we'll have more resources and maybe we wouldn't want to let drop aspects of the mandate simply because we can't realize those total objectives in exactly the same way now as we could 10 years ago because we had more resources.

Public Accounts committee  June 30?

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  That's fine. I just want to make sure I have the question formulated correctly. If you could send it to me in writing, it would be better.