CHPC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Gary Schellenberger, presiding.

Pierre Bélanger and Suzanne Roy made statements and answered questions.

At 4:53 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:58 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Maka Kotto moved, — That the Committee adopt the following report:

Whereas, in light of the evidence from the Canadian Museums Association, Alberta Museums and the Société des Musées Québécois, an exemplary consultation process and an exhaustive study of the federal government’s role has already been undertaken by a number of stakeholders, including representatives of the museums associations, who have been working on this matter for two years, the Standing Committee on Heritage feels that, apart from the Minister of Canadian Heritage’s announcement of cuts to the MAP, the situation remains virtually unchanged;

Whereas a motion was adopted in committee on 22 June 2006 and included in the 6th report tabled in the house on 20 September 2006, and stipulated:

"That, in the Committee's opinion, the government implement as soon as possible the new museum policy discussed in 2005 and respect the work and consultations undertaken by the Department; that this new policy, once developed, be studied by the present Committee before its introduction in the House; and that the Chair report to the House;”

Whereas another motion adopted in committee on 4 October 2006 and accepted by the House on 4 October 2006 stipulated that, "pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommend that the government maintain the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) at the same level as in fiscal year 2005-2006, that a new museum policy be established;"

Whereas the witnesses from the Canadian Museums Association, Alberta Museums and the Société des Musées Québécois feel there is no point in a new study that would inevitably lead to the same conclusions;

Whereas new consultations would therefore be pointless and clearly represent a step backward in this matter;

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government comply with the two aforementioned motions and submit a new museum policy to the Standing Committee on Heritage before the announcement of its next budget; and that the Chair present this report to the House; and pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report..

On motion of Luc Malo, it was agreed, — That the Report be amended, in the french version only, by deleting the word “qu'” and adding after the word “étude” the words “car celle-ci”..

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Charlie Angus, it was agreed, — That this committee undertake a full investigation of the role for a public broadcaster in the 21st century, an examination of the various services including the adequacy of regional programming, and an examination of the issues posed by new media; the study will gather public input from stakeholders and deliver a report to the Minister advising her of our findings; this undertaking shall commence upon the return of the House in January 2007.

At 5:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.