CHPC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met in camera at 11:39 a.m. this day, in Room 214, Wellington Building, the Chair, Gary Ralph Schellenberger, presiding.

It was agreed, — That in light of the recently announced cuts to Canada’s Musical Diversity program, the Committee will conduct a study, over the course of no more than 3 meetings, in order to:

a) inform Committee members of the details and impact of this program on music and musicians in Canada;

b) determine how and why the Department of Canadian Heritage decided to make these cuts;

c) establish what programs would be available to the musicians who made use of these programs, if these cuts proceed as scheduled;

d) make recommendations to the government on how to support musical diversity in Canada; and

That, in order to conduct this study, the Committee will hear testimony from witnesses including, but not necessarily limited to:

i) Canadian musicians who made use of the program to describe how they benefited from it;

ii) Department of Canadian Heritage Officials who administered the program to explain its mandate and operation; and

iii) Department of Canadian Heritage Officials and/or the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages to explain the rationale for the cuts.

It was agreed, — That the following witnesses: Gary Cristall, Nilan Perera, Nick Fraser, Jesse Zubot, Bill Garrett, Derek Andrews, Conseil québécois de la musique, Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) and Music Action Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Heritage – Officials be invited to appear in relation to the study on cuts to canada's musical diversity program.

At 12:25 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the Committee undertake a study on the slow decision- making by the Department of Canadian Heritage in awarding grants to cultural organizations in the country. In some cases, the response time for an application to Canadian Heritage exceeds 12 to 18 months, which is totally unacceptable for cultural organizations that depend in part on these grants for their daily operations or the success of their project. The Committee will study the causes and find practical solutions to the disbursement problem of the department. The Committee will then send its recommendations to the House.

It was agreed, — That the Committee invite the senior officials of the Department of Canadian Heritage to appear on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in relation to the study on awarding grants to cultural organizations in the country.

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.