CHPC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Gary Schellenberger, presiding.

Bill Siksay moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage hold hearings urgently in May 2008 on the decision by CBC/Radio Canada to disband the CBC Radio Orchestra, on CBC/Radio Canada’s commitment to classical music, and on the changes to CBC Radio 2, and that the committee travel to Vancouver for some of those hearings.

Debate arose thereon.

Maria Mourani moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “urgently in May 2008” with the words “prior to the summer recess” and the words “travel to Vancouver for some of those hearings” with the words “hold one hearing in Vancouver and additional hearings in Ottawa”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Maria Mourani and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 7.

Denis Coderre moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “urgently in May 2008” with the words “prior to the summer recess” and by deleting the words “and that the committee travel to Vancouver for some of those hearings”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Denis Coderre and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 2.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Jim Abbott, Michael D. Chong, Denis Coderre, Dean Del Mastro, Hedy Fry, John Godfrey, Luc Malo, Maria Mourani, Francis Scarpaleggia, Bill Siksay — 10; NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage hold hearings prior to the summer recess on the decision by CBC/Radio Canada to disband the CBC Radio Orchestra, on CBC/Radio Canada’s commitment to classical music, and on the changes to CBC Radio 2.

Maria Mourani moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the following be reported to the House at the earliest opportunity:

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government point out to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that conventional television must support information services, including quality regional information services.

Debate arose thereon.

Denis Coderre moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “support” the following: “a basic level of” and by adding after the word “services” the following: “and local production”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Denis Coderre and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Jim Abbott, Michael D. Chong, Denis Coderre, Dean Del Mastro, Hedy Fry, John Godfrey, Luc Malo, Maria Mourani, Francis Scarpaleggia, Bill Siksay — 10; NAYS: — 0.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the following be reported to the House at the earliest opportunity:

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the government point out to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that conventional television must support a bacic level of information services, including quality regional information services and local production.

Dean Del Mastro moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage invite organizers, officials and participants of the Canada’s pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 Exhibition to give an update.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 0.

Jim Abbott moved, — That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage consider the request of Konrad von Finckenstein when he asked during his appearance on March 4, 2008 that the CRTC be given “power to impose Administrative Monetary Penalties or AMPs” (Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage transcripts, March 4, 2008) and that the Committee write to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages about their findings.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “consider” with the words “hold hearings on” and by adding after the word “findings” the following “and report their findings to the House”.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 1.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage hold hearings on the request of Konrad von Finckenstein when he asked during his appearance on March 4, 2008 that the CRTC be given “power to impose Administrative Monetary Penalties or AMPs” (Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage transcripts, March 4, 2008) and that the Committee write to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages about their findings and report their findings to the House.

At 5:22 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.