CHPC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met at 3:33 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Gary Schellenberger, presiding.

It was agreed, — That Mr. Robert Sirman, Director of the Canada Council for the Arts be invited to appear before the Committee on Tuesday May 30th, 2006, for and hour and a half, on the Certificate of this nomination, and that the last thirty (30) minutes of the sitting be used for the consideration of motions on Notice from the members of the Committee.

Maka Kotto moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage ask the Minister of Heritage, before committing herself in the review of the CBC-SRC mandate, to comply with the motion that she herself had adopted during the 38th Parliament, the last paragraph of which reads: “That the government, when establishing this independent task force, do so under the advisement of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, and that the membership reflect that of this committee;” and that the Chair report this motion to the House of Commons.

Debate arose thereon.

Jim Abbott moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the words: “advisement of the Standing Committee on the Canadian Heritage”: and replace them with the following: “and that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage be offered the opportunity to review and comment on the draft report prior to the consideration the Minister”.

Debate arose thereon.

Mauril Bélanger moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting all the words after the word “review” and replace them with the following: “that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage be offered the opportunity to review and offer modifications to the terms of reference of the CBC-SRC mandate review prior to the commencement of the review and, that the Chair report this motion to the House of Commons”.

After debate, by unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

The question was put on the amendment of Mauril Bélanger and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 1.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage ask the Minister of Heritage, before committing herself in the review of the CBC–SRC mandate to comply with the motion that she herself had adopted during the 38th Parliament, part of which reads : “That the government, when establishing this independent task force, do so under the advisement of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage”. Further more, that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage be offered the opportunity to review and offer modifications to the terms of reference of the CBC-SRC mandate review prior to the commencement of the review; and that the Chair report this motion to the House of Commons.

Maka Kotto moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage review the mandates of the Crown Corporations under its purview to ensure their capacity to carry them out properly.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Maka Kotto moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage summon the senior executives of Telefilm Canada, the members of its Board of Directors in November 2004, and Stéphane Odesse. The item on the agenda will be a review of the selection process and criteria for a film event in Montreal in 2005.

Luc Malo moved, — That the motion be amended by adding immediately after “2004”, the following list:

Managers at the time:

Richard Stursberg

Michel Pradier (member of the Selection Committee)

Jean-Claude Mahé (member of the Selection Committee)

Management Board:

Charles Bélanger

Jacques Bensimon

Louise Pelletier

Félix Fraser

Trina McQueen.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the consideration of the motion be suspended, and that a legal opinion be requested from the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel in regard to the fact that Telefilm Canada is a party involved in a law suit before a Court in Quebec, and keeping in mind the Sub judice convention, whether the Committee can also go ahead and invite the proposed organization to appear.

It was agreed, — That the proposed travel budget in the amount of $ 98,075, for the Committee’s travel to attend the 2006 Banff World Television Festival from June 10-15, 2006 be reduced in half, that the days be reduced from 5 to 3 and that cheaper fares be looked into and also staff should try and get the Festival fees waived, that the reduced budget be deemed adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, Jim Abbott provide a list of vacancies within the Canadian Heritage Portfolio as previously agreed to.

At 5:14 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.