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Results: 1 - 55 of 55
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I think we have a charter statement that is pretty clear about Bill C-10's respecting section 2 of the charter. We've also heard from deputy minister Drouin, who has been very clear on that as well.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Champoux.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I want to thank my colleague for his important question.
I want to point out that the federal government has made almost $3 billion available to the arts, culture and media sector in recent months to help it get through this crisis. We've contributed $2.5 billion through the Canada emergency response benefit and the Canada emergency wage subsidy. We've provided $500 million in emergency measures for the sector. In addition, we've committed to tabling a bill to ensure greater fairness for Canadian distributors—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, my colleague and I agree on this notion of fairness.
I had committed to tabling a bill before June, but the pandemic obviously prevented this from happening. I'm committing today to tabling this bill when we return in the fall.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank the member opposite for her question and advocacy in this matter.
As she well knows, in the last mandate we adopted a new bill, the Indigenous Languages Act, to help save, promote and foster indigenous languages and the revitalization of those languages. We are doing so in partnership with indigenous communities across the country and we will continue to do so, Mr. Chair.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Madame Chair, and I thank the member opposite for his question.
As you well know, a healthy news and media sector in Canada is a priority for our government, which is why we have put in place a number of measures before COVID-19 and during COVID-19, and we will continue to be there for them after this crisis has gone by.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I'd like to thank the member for his question. However, I strongly disagree with him.
We haven't waited to develop a plan for the arts and culture sector. We listened to the community and we tailored our supports, as they were announced. We have an emergency plan for the arts and culture sector. We were asked to adapt the CERB to take royalties into account, and we did. We were asked to extend the CERB, and we did. We are fully aware that the recovery will take longer in the arts and culture sector.
We have been there, we are there and we will be there for the arts and culture sector.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I'm not so sure those who were protesting last week had issues with our government, but we'd certainly be happy to speak with them.
As for a long-term plan, we are currently consulting arts and culture stakeholders to contemplate together how the government can help the sector in response to the ongoing crisis.
We are working on finding solutions, but until we have long-term solutions, we have seen to it that our artists and organizations have access to funding until September.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Madame Chair; and I thank the member for this important question.
As stated by the Prime Minister on numerous occasions, our government recognizes that systemic racism exists in Canada, and we have made a commitment to do everything we can to combat it in whichever organization of the Canadian government.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her question.
As she knows full well, the Canada Council for the Arts is an independent organization. The organization provides the funding. It is responsible for establishing its programs, free from any political interference or influence. In addition, grants are awarded with the help of a panel of experts in the field, meaning peers, artists, theatre administrators and other arts professionals from across Canada.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for her question.
We have implemented processes to depoliticize the funding system in the arts. What my colleague from the Bloc Québécois is asking me to do is to make those policies more political and more politicized.
I am not sure that is what our artists and artisans in the arts and culture sector are asking us to do.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I said, and I repeat, the grants are awarded through a peer review committee. The artists and artisans in the sector may or may not make favourable recommendations for funding. In the case of the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, an expert peer review committee concluded that the grant should not be awarded.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, my thanks to my colleague for his question and for his interest in arts and culture.
We acted quickly at the very beginning of the pandemic. We put almost $2.5 billion into arts and culture through the Canada emergency response benefit and the emergency wage subsidy. As an emergency measure, we have provided $500 million to arts, culture and sport across Canada.
We have already started to help this sector, and we will continue to help the sector get through this unprecedented crisis.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
First, Mr. Chair, I would like to offer my congratulations to the new Auditor General for her appointment.
On behalf of the government, I would also like to offer her our full support and collaboration—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, her role is essential to our democracy. We are eager to work with her. She's more than welcome to share her concerns directly with the government. I can assure her that my—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, our government has added 38 permanent staff positions to her office, while the Conservative government, under their leadership, cut the funding for more than 60—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, our government is fully committed to supporting the important and ongoing work of the Auditor General, an independent officer of Parliament. If the Auditor General identifies the need for additional resources, we will work with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that they have all the resources they need to continue fulfilling their mandate efficiently and effectively.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, maybe I'm not making myself clear in English. I will switch to my native tongue, French, in case it becomes clearer.
If the Auditor General identifies a need for additional resources, we will work with her to ensure that her office can continue to deliver its mandate efficiently and effectively.
In addition, our government worked with the Auditor General to increase funding in 2018-09. With this increase, the office was able to add the equivalent of 38 new full-time staff to its team. That's 38 more employees—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we have already increased the budget of the Office of the Auditor General in the 2018-19 period.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his question and all the work he's doing in arts and culture.
From the outset, we've been there to support our artists and arts organizations. We introduced the Canada emergency response benefit, for example, but also the emergency wage subsidy, which we made available to non-governmental organizations.
To ensure that people who receive royalties aren't penalized under the Canada emergency response benefit, we have adapted it. We announced a $500 million fund to specifically help the arts and culture sector.
In fact, we understand very well that this sector has been severely affected by the current crisis. We've been there for our artists and artisans, and we will continue to be.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we've made it clear in the House numerous times that we have no intention of regulating the Internet.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his question.
As you know, we've announced a $500 million emergency fund that is starting to be deployed. The second phase of this fund, a portal, will be online in the next few days. Organizations across the country will be able to register and apply.
We are in a historic situation, a crisis that we certainly haven't experienced in a hundred years. It may take some time before we can roll out our programs, but we are working hard to do so.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I deeply disagree with my colleague. Our government has invested $2.5 billion to help the arts and culture sector and our artists. We've done a lot.
I'm aware that we need to do more, and we're working on that.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for his question.
Our government will always protect our networks and ensure that Canadians have access to the latest innovations in telecommunications. A review of 5G technologies and their economic and security considerations is currently under way.
We will ensure that Canadians' security and personal information will never be compromised.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, the government remains committed to maintaining the openness and transparency of our government during this challenging time. The Government of Canada, along with provincial and territorial governments, have implemented exceptional workplace measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, and to protect the health and safety of federal employees. These measures have had an impact on institutions' abilities to respond to access to information and personal information requests, since most employees are now working from their homes.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Treasury Board Secretariat has provided guidance to institutions to continue to make the best efforts to respond to Access to Information Act and Privacy Act requests and to provide published content—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we value the important work of media across the country and the world. Attacking the integrity of hard-working journalists is not acceptable.
As many members on all sides of the House know, WeChat is a social media platform used to engage and share information with the Chinese-Canadian community. Participation in this group, much like Facebook, is guided by posted guidelines and a disclaimer. In this case, the individual who violated the guidelines of the group is no longer a part of that group.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
As the member knows, we have done a number of things in the past weeks to help the arts and culture sector. We could talk about the Canadian emergency response benefit, or the wage subsidy.
We have provided advance help to a number of organizations from Canadian Heritage programs or the Canada Council for the Arts on top of the $500-million program, which has started to be deployed and will continue to be deployed in the coming weeks specifically for these types of organizations.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
As the member said, these are allegations, and as you well know, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is an independent body. It's not controlled by the Minister of Canadian Heritage or the government.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Allegations are allegations, whether they are made in Quebec, Ontario or Alberta. As I said, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is an independent organization.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
As the member is well aware, this program is a tax-break program. In order for organizations to qualify, they had to file their income tax forms, which they have done over the last few weeks. The program is in place, and we are confidant that media organizations will receive the money by the end of the summer.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would be happy to provide the list of those 1,400 media organizations that have received funding through that ad campaign.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I too would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday.
Our artists have kept us strong and connected throughout this crisis. It is our turn to step up for them.
I want to thank you for your resilience and your patience. Your continuous feedback and inspiring work have helped us get where we are today.
Our government allocated $500 million to respond to the specific financial needs of the arts, heritage and sports organizations and help them be more resilient through these difficult times. Last week, I was proud to announce how this funding will be rolled out. In total, our cultural sector will receive over $422 million in this emergency funding. We are making sure organizations can continue delivering programs to Canadians, while protecting more jobs in our economy.
The funding process will be streamlined and will mostly use existing programs and partnerships to disburse payment as quickly as possible. Our government has always been there for our arts and culture communities. We continue to support them for our people and our economy during this difficult time.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I hope the member isn't suggesting that, because some members of the House are making an effort to speak French, they are unduly dragging out the time, as he seems to have said. Good for them, I say, for trying to speak a language they aren't necessarily comfortable in for the benefit of other members.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
There is also la Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, to help Canadians have access to the best possible information on COVID-19, which I think—
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
It's just like doctors, I guess. Get a second opinion.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, we will be releasing the details of that announcement, and how the money is going to be spent, in the coming days.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, we have not been informed of these allegations. We will look into this, and we will get back to the hon. colleague if we do find any valuable information.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I totally agree with my colleague. We need to get the information to Canadians on COVID-19, which is why we have started an ad-buy campaign of $30 million, which is being distributed in more than 900 local, regional and national newspapers across the country and 500 radio and TV stations in 12 different languages, including Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian and many more.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, we have been doing a number of things for our media in Canada over the last few months and will continue to do so. On top of that $30 million ad-buy campaign, we have been investing $50 million in local journalism. Just this year, it means that 200 journalists will be hired in areas across the country where journalism is more poorly defined. The federal government has paid part I licence fees of our broadcasters to the CRTC. That means $30 million is staying in the pockets of our broadcasters.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
We are planning a number of other measures, some of which will be included in the $500 million. I will be announcing the details of that in the coming days. Of the $595 million that the media will receive, we have a tax credit that has now entered into force, and the cheques should be in the mail by the end of the summer. So there are a number of things we've done and a number of things we will be doing in the coming months as well.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would like to remind my hon. colleague that in order for us to provide tax breaks for the 2019 period, media outlets had to file their tax returns so we could go ahead.
This will now be able to proceed, Madam Chair.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, in fact we've already been investing in these media in more than 12 languages in Canada—more than 900 newspapers and 500 radio and TV stations across the country.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, the answer to the first question is “yes”. The answer to the second question is that we're still compiling that list, but we'll be happy to share it with them.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we know the tourism industry has been hard hit by COVID-19. It was among the first to feel the impact, for that matter. We are in constant contact with industry stakeholders. Since the beginning of the crisis, we've been in contact with the provincial and territorial tourism ministers, as well as industry representatives.
On top of all the measures my fellow members mentioned, our government invested $675 million in our six regional development agencies and $287 million in the network of community futures development corporations to help businesses, especially those in the tourism sector.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
In fact, we have already started deploying money to regional and local newspapers and media across the country. Earlier on, I specified a $30-million aid package that has gone to media, to more than 900 newspapers across the country and 500 radio and TV stations across the country in 12 different languages, including French, English and Inuktitut.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to be splitting my time with two of my colleagues.
I would like to begin by thanking my fellow citizens of Laurier—Sainte-Marie. I am proud to be able to represent them in the House.
I am very pleased to be here with you to continue the important work of Parliament and its committees, while respecting public health and physical distancing guidelines.
I'm going to talk briefly about our creative, cultural and heritage industries, our sports organizations and the media sector.
As you can imagine, like many others, these organizations and companies are facing a major crisis that stems from COVID-19, the biggest crisis in our recent history. All of us, as elected officials in our democracy and on behalf of the Canadian people, have a role to play in helping our creators and the sports community get through this ordeal and come out of it bigger and stronger.
Of course, it will be a challenge to ensure that these organizations and the professionals who run them emerge from the crisis to find their audiences and supporters, but I know we can do it if we all pull together.
On April 26, artists from across Canada did what they do best: create, move and inspire us. They came together virtually and gave us a memorable concert, Stronger Together, Tous ensemble. They put a balm on containment. At the same time, they helped us to feel a little less alone, more connected, more supportive.
Isolation and an economic shutdown are a new reality and like you, all Canadians, we are still learning. We have to do our best and as much as we can during this period of great uncertainty. In fact, that is what our artists and athletes are doing. Their spirit of initiative, their resilience and solidarity are a source of inspiration for our work today. Let's try to act like them and for them.
In Canada, we recognize that the cultural sector in all its diversity of expression, the museum sector and sports are a force for developing our communities and our identity. They ensure a strong, active and healthy Canadian society.
In addition to being a key economic driver, culture is a pillar that holds our communities together and keeps them united. We need that more than ever in these difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the arts, culture, heritage and sport, an inherent and essential part of our communities and Canadian culture, are harshly affected by the pandemic.
Leaders of these creative businesses and sports organizations are reporting major financial losses as a result of the measures being put in place, which are necessary for ensuring the health of the Canadian public. For example, all public events such as concerts, festivals and various performances have been cancelled. Film and television production is on hold, museums are no longer hosting activities and several businesses are posting a significant decline in their ad revenue among other things.
We can expect Canada's creative industry to suffer growing financial pressure. In one month, losses are estimated at $4.4 billion and roughly 26,000 jobs. In three months, they are estimated at $13.2 billion and roughly 81,000 jobs. Some businesses are able to recover from these losses with help from the government and through loans and support from the private sector. It is precisely to reassure and maintain our thriving cultural and sports sector that we reacted quickly and urgently. We are here for our athletes and artists when they need us the most.
As you may know, as soon as containment measures were announced in Canada, I held a virtual press briefing to reassure our entire cultural and sports sector. I wanted to guarantee to them that government funding would be maintained, regardless of the circumstances.
The work and mandate of Canadian Heritage has not changed. We are here to support the arts, culture and sports sectors. We have ensured that funds from grants and contributions continue to flow and we remain available to work with our partners to determine the best way forward.
The Government of Canada is also working hard to roll out its COVID-19 economic response plan. This plan includes direct support for every affected Canadian, including those in the arts, culture and sports sectors. It includes the Canada emergency response benefit for workers who lose all or part of their income because of the pandemic. The benefit applies to wage earners, contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for employment insurance.
Note that after receiving input from the industry, we announced that royalty payments would not be included in calculating the income eligible for benefits. As someone who has published three books, I understood this very clearly. This means that artists and creators will not be disadvantaged because of work they did months ago.
In addition to these emergency benefits and the credits and exemptions we have provided for all Canadians and Canadian businesses, we have introduced targeted measures for our cultural and sports sectors. On April 17, our Prime Minister announced a $500-million emergency fund for our cultural, heritage and sports organizations in recognition of their importance to our society. This assistance is intended for institutions that suffer or will suffer income losses related to COVID-19. We are doing everything possible to stay in touch with our partners and the organizations we support to address their most pressing concerns.
This measure will provide financial support that ties in with existing measures in response to COVID-19 pertaining to salaries and fixed costs. The fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage, with the support of our partners, notably the Canada Council for the Arts. We will work with the culture, heritage and sports sectors to clarify the terms and conditions of this financial support. Supplementary to this, the Canada Council will also provide $60 million in advance funding to help cultural organizations and artists who receive council grants to meet their immediate commitments.
Our government, through Canadian Heritage, is also investing $3 million in several organizations through the digital citizen initiative to help combat false and misleading COVID-19 information, as well as the racism and stigmatization that we have seen spurred by the crisis. This support will help fund activities such as public awareness tools and online workshops to help Canadians become more resilient and to think critically about COVID-19 disinformation. Funded projects will reach Canadians on a national scale and a local scale, online and offline, and minority communities in both official languages, and indigenous communities.
We are also providing support for broadcasters. The Government of Canada has waived part 1 licence fees for the 2020-21 fiscal year. This amounts to $30 million in assistance to our broadcasters.
An independent panel of experts will also make recommendations to the Canada Revenue Agency on the implementation of the tax measures for print journalism announced in budget 2019. This panel is now in place and we have made several adjustments to the tax measures to better meet the needs of the publishing and journalism community. To give just one example, new publishers and media outlets that receive support from the Canada periodical fund will be eligible for Canadian journalism labour tax credits.
Finally, the vast majority of the $30 million invested by our government in a national COVID-19 awareness campaign will be invested in Canadian media, in television and radio, newspapers, magazines and digital media. The revenue generated by this campaign will provide our media with a breath of fresh air.
Canadians are facing one of the greatest challenges in our history. Our artists, our creators, our athletes and our amateur sports community are showing us many examples of solidarity. Together, alongside them, we will meet this challenge.
I invite you to envisage the sport and culture sector as an ecosystem, rich in its diversity but fragile. Together let's continue to protect it.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we know that the tourism industry is hard hit by COVID-19, and we are working tirelessly to mitigate the impacts on the Canadian economy. Strong measures have been put in place, as one of my colleagues indicated earlier, for example, the Canada emergency response benefit or the Canada emergency wage subsidy.
We're also investing $675 million in six of our regional agencies as well as $287 million in the CFDC-CAE network to support small businesses in rural communities, particularly in the sector of tourism.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, we are working tirelessly to come up with these details. I'm hoping that they will be made available in the coming days.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
I want to thank the member for his question.
We've done a number of things over the past few weeks to help organizers of social, cultural or artistic events who are feeling the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
One of the Department of Canadian Heritage's first initiatives was to announce that we would honour all our financial commitments with our partners, even though their events wouldn't be taking place. They were instructed to use the money to offset some of the losses. We also asked them to compensate the craftspeople and technicians who would have participated in these events.
The $500 million that the Prime Minister and I announced a week and a half ago builds on other measures that the government implemented, such as the Canada emergency wage subsidy and the Canada emergency response benefit.
We're well aware that not everyone who works in the arts, culture and events sectors can access these measures. We're working out the details. In the interest of transparency, I hope that these details will be released to the public in the next few days.
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
View Steven Guilbeault Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question.
I am a big believer in local weeklies. When I was young, I delivered Le Nouvelliste for four years. I delivered the local weekly in La Tuque for many years. I wrote for several local media, including Transcontinental. Our government and I fundamentally believe that they are important.
This program is in its first year. We are quite willing to adjust the focus if we see the need to do so and if the program fails to meet the needs of the sector.
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