Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Ministry of Culture and Tourism Consideration of Main Estimates Wednesday, May 11, 2016 3:30 p.m. Transcript No. 29-2-6 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Sucha, Graham, Calgary-Shaw (ND), Chair Schneider, David A., Little Bow (W), Deputy Chair Anderson, Shaye, Leduc-Beaumont (ND) Carson, Jonathon, Edmonton-Meadowlark (ND) Connolly, Michael R.D., Calgary-Hawkwood (ND) Coolahan, Craig, Calgary-Klein (ND) Dach, Lorne, Edmonton-McClung (ND) Fitzpatrick, Maria M., Lethbridge-East (ND) Gotfried, Richard, Calgary-Fish Creek (PC) Hunter, Grant R., Cardston-Taber-Warner (W) Jansen, Sandra, Calgary-North West (PC) Panda, Prasad, Calgary-Foothills (W) Piquette, Colin, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (ND) Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC)* Schreiner, Kim, Red Deer-North (ND) Starke, Dr. Richard, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC)** Taylor, Wes, Battle River-Wainwright (W) * substitution for Sandra Jansen ** substitution for Richard Gotfried Also in Attendance Cyr, Scott J., Bonnyville-Cold Lake (W) Orr, Ron, Lacombe-Ponoka (W) Support Staff Robert H. Reynolds, QC Clerk Shannon Dean Senior Parliamentary Counsel/ Director of House Services Philip Massolin Manager of Research Services Stephanie LeBlanc Legal Research Officer Sarah Amato Research Officer Nancy Robert Research Officer Corinne Dacyshyn Committee Clerk Jody Rempel Committee Clerk Aaron Roth Committee Clerk Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Rhonda Sorensen Manager of Corporate Communications and Broadcast Services Jeanette Dotimas Communications Consultant Tracey Sales Communications Consultant Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Participant Ministry of Culture and Tourism Hon. Ricardo Miranda, Minister May 11, 2016 Alberta’s Economic Future EF-301 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2016 governing the speaking rotation. As provided for in Standing Order Title: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 ef 59.01(6), the rotation is as follows. The minister or the member of [Mr. Sucha in the chair] Executive Council acting on the minister’s behalf may make opening comments not exceeding 10 minutes. For the hour that Ministry of Culture and Tourism follows, members of the Official Opposition and the minister may Consideration of Main Estimates speak. For the next 20 minutes the members of the third party, if any, and the minister may speak. For the next 20 minutes the The Chair: All right. Good afternoon, everyone. I’d like to call this members of any other party represented in the Assembly or any meeting to order and welcome everyone. The committee has under independent members and the minister may speak. For the consideration the estimates of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism following 20 minutes private members of the government caucus for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. and the minister may speak. For the time remaining, we will follow I’d ask that we go around the table and have all MLAs introduce the same rotation just outlined to the extent possible; however, the themselves for the record. Minister, when we get to you, please speaking times are reduced to five minutes as set out in Standing introduce the staff that are joining you at the table. Order 59.02(1)(c). But first I’d like to note for the record that Mr. Rodney is an Members may speak more than once; however, speaking times official substitute for Ms Jansen and that Dr. Starke is an official for the first rotation are limited to 10 minutes at any one time. A substitute for Mr. Gotfried. minister and a member may combine their time for a total of 20 I am Graham Sucha, MLA for Calgary-Shaw and chair of this minutes. For the final rotation, with speaking times of five minutes, committee. once again a minister and a member may combine their speaking time for a maximum total of 10 minutes. Discussion should flow Mr. Schneider: Dave Schneider, MLA for Little Bow and vice- through the chair at all times regardless of whether or not speaking chair. time is combined. Mr. Cyr: Scott Cyr, MLA, Bonnyville-Cold Lake. If members have any questions regarding speaking times or the rotation, please feel free to send a note or speak directly to either Mr. Taylor: Wes Taylor, MLA, Battle River-Wainwright. the chair or the committee clerk about the process. Three hours have been scheduled for consideration of the Mr. Orr: Ron Orr, MLA, Lacombe-Ponoka. estimates of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With the concurrence of the committee I will call a five-minute break near Mr. Panda: Prasad Panda, MLA, Calgary-Foothills. the midpoint of the meeting; however, the three-hour clock will Miranda: Ricardo Miranda. I’m joined today by Acting Deputy continue to run. Is anyone opposed to having a break? Minister Chris Heseltine along with members of the senior Dr. Starke: Mr. Chair, I’m opposed. leadership team, including Brian Fischer and Carol Moerth. Supporting us are Roger Kramers, Yvette Ng, Cindie LeBlanc, The Chair: All right. That is noted, so we will be omitting the David Middagh, and Beryl Cullum. break. Committee members, ministers, and other members who are not Mr. Dach: Lorne Dach, MLA, Edmonton-McClung. committee members may participate; however, only a committee Mr. Connolly: Michael Connolly, MLA for Calgary-Hawkwood. member or an official substitute for a committee member may introduce an amendment during a committee’s review of the Mr. S. Anderson: Hello, Chair. I am Shaye Anderson from Leduc- estimates. Beaumont. Ministry officials may be present, and at the direction of the minister officials from the ministry may address the committee. Mr. Piquette: Colin Piquette, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater. Ministry staff seated in the gallery, if called upon, have access to a microphone in the gallery area. Members’ staff may be present and, Mr. Carson: Jon Carson, Edmonton-Meadowlark. space permitting, may sit at the table or behind their members along Ms Fitzpatrick: Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA, Lethbridge-East. the committee room wall. However, members have priority for seating at the table at all times. Mrs. Schreiner: Kim Schreiner, MLA, Red Deer-North. If debate is exhausted prior to three hours, the ministry’s estimates are deemed to have been considered for the time allotted Mr. Coolahan: Craig Coolahan, MLA, Calgary-Klein. in the schedule, and we will adjourn. Otherwise, we will adjourn at 6:30 p.m. The Chair: I also note for the record that Dr. Starke has joined the Points of order will be dealt with as they arise, and the clock will committee, the Member for Vermilion-Lloydminster. continue to run. Dr. Starke: Thank you, Chair. Any written material provided in response to questions raised during the main estimates should be tabled by the minister in the The Chair: No problem. Assembly for the benefit of all members. Please note that microphones are operated by Hansard, and we’d Again I will remind all participants to address their questions and ask that BlackBerrys, iPhones, et cetera, be turned off or set to silent responses through the chair and not directly to each other. or vibrate and not placed on the table as they may interfere with the The vote on the estimates is deferred until consideration of all audiofeed. ministry estimates has concluded and will occur in Committee of Hon. members, the standing orders set out the process for Supply on May 17, 2016. consideration of the main estimates. Before we proceed with If there are amendments, an amendment to the estimates cannot consideration of the main estimates for the Ministry of Culture and seek to increase the amount of the estimates being considered, Tourism, I would like to review briefly the standing orders change the destination of a grant, or change the destination or EF-302 Alberta’s Economic Future May 11, 2016 purpose of a subsidy. An amendment may be proposed to reduce an Our government will continue to maintain the charitable tax estimate, but the amendment cannot propose to reduce the estimate credit as a means to further encourage Albertans who are able to do by its full amount. The vote on amendments is deferred until so to support their favourite registered charity. Committee of Supply convenes on May 17, 2016. Amendments Our government recognizes the important contribution of must be in writing and approved by Parliamentary Counsel prior to Alberta’s artists and arts organizations and the potential of the arts the meeting at which they are being moved. Twenty copies of sector to support a more diversified Alberta economy. In light of amendments must be provided at the meeting for committee fiscal realities, however, our priority must be in providing core members and their staff. services such as health care and education to Albertans. As such, an I will now invite the Minister of Culture and Tourism to begin increase to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts funding, that was with his opening remarks. included in the election platform, will be delayed until there is sufficient improvement in the province’s finances. Budget 2016 Miranda: Thank you, Chair. Hon. members, I am pleased to be provides $26.6 million in funding to the AFA and maintains with you today to present the details of Budget 2016. As I Alberta’s place among the leaders in provincial per capita funding mentioned earlier, joining me today is Acting Deputy Minister for the arts. I should note that the funding decrease of $65,000 noted Chris Heseltine along with members of my senior leadership team, within the budget information represents a transfer of responsibility including Brian Fischer and Carol Moerth. Supporting us are Roger for the funding of CKUA from the AFA to the department, which Kramers, Yvette Ng, Cindie LeBlanc, David Middagh, and Beryl took place on April 1.