e-5150 (Culture and heritage)

3. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) investigates threats which may, on reasonable grounds, be suspected of posing a threat to the security of Canada. Where appropriate, CSIS may take measures to reduce these threats in accordance with well-defined legal requirements and ministerial direction. This includes foreign interference (FI), which consists of clandestine, deceptive, or threatening activities undertaken by a foreign state to advance its interests, often to the detriment of Canada’s. FI is a complex national security threat that poses a significant threat to the integrity of Canada’s political systems, democratic processes, social cohesion, academic freedom, economic prosperity and challenges Canadians’ rights and freedoms. As CSIS has publicly stated, the Russian Federation continues to pose an FI threat to Canada. CSIS investigates and advises on these threats within its prescribed mandate.

The Government of Canada takes all allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide seriously.

The Government of Canada is aware of, and deeply disturbed by, the serious allegations that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed as part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In 2022, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) opened a national investigation into these allegations, pursuant to its participation in Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (made up of the Department of Justice Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the RCMP).

The RCMP, along with law enforcement entities worldwide, is working to document information and evidence to assist in potential future prosecutions of alleged war crimes being committed in this conflict.

4. As the only law enforcement entity in Canada with jurisdiction to investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched a national investigation into allegations of such offences being committed as part of the conflict, pursuant to its participation in Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (made up of the Department of Justice Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the RCMP). A Ukraine conflict website (https://ukraine.rcmp.ca/responseForm?lang=en) has been launched to provide Ukrainians entering Canada and those already in Canada with information about this national investigation and how they can share information. Further information is also available at Canada's main ports of entry by air, and through non-governmental organizations and community groups providing assistance to Ukrainians.

Internationally, the RCMP continues to work closely with foreign partners who are also collecting and documenting information and evidence to assist in potential future prosecutions of alleged war crimes being committed as part of this conflict.

REPLY (QUESTION 1 & 2)

The Minister of Canadian Heritage would like to thank the petitioners for raising their concerns on this issue.

Since 2022, the Government of Canada has denounced Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, jeopardizes stability in the region and puts countless innocent lives at risk. It also threatens the values and principles that underpin the rules-based international system, including every state’s right to sovereignty and self-determination.

Since then, Canada has been steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and its efforts toward a just and sustainable peace.

In the wake of the Government's efforts to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion, Canadian Heritage, which has no direct funding programs for audiovisual productions, wrote a letter to all its partners, including the Canada Media Fund Corporation, asking them to suspend all direct and indirect funding partnerships and programs, co-productions and engagement with Russian and Belarusian state partners.

The Government of Canada supports the Canada Media Fund Corporation, which is a private-public partnership. The Canada Media Fund is an independent not-for-profit corporation responsible for funding audiovisual projects. The Canada Media Fund Corporation administers its programs in a manner that is independent of the Government of Canada and supports Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)-regulated broadcasters in order for them to broadcast projects that conform to the programming standards endorsed by the CRTC.

It is important to note that as a funding partner, the Government of Canada does not intervene in any way in the Canada Media Fund Corporation’s funding or content decisions; its role is to establish public policy objectives (cultural and economic) to ensure that its partners support professional-calibre audiovisual content, such as drama series, youth programming, films, documentaries and variety shows.

Of course, should a funding partner such as the Canada Media Fund Corporation or any funding recipient go against the objectives and parameters set out in their agreement with the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Department has access to legal and financial mechanisms to obtain information, correct anomalies or, in extreme situations, to discontinue federal funding.

Since its inception in 2010, the Canada Media Fund has provided support to more than 30,000 audiovisual projects. The program that funds the Canada Media Fund Corporation has been evaluated every five years like all federal funding programs, and each time it has been found to be meeting its key objectives.

Concerns regarding the Canada Media Fund’s support for the Russians at War project should be submitted directly to the Canada Media Fund Corporation, to the attention of the President and CEO, Ms. Valerie Creighton, either by mail (Canada Media Fund, Suite 202, 50 Wellington Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1C8) or by e-mail at info@telefilm.ca or via the Canada Media Fund’s web site at Home | Canada Media Fund).