Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance, I would like to make some comments about video production, an item which is contained under the educational development activity. The Standing Committee on Finance has an ongoing concern regarding video productions within the government. In its report, in the 1994/95 Main Estimates, the standing committee asked for a briefing to justify continuation of in-house video production. The Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Renewable Resources provided that briefing to the Standing Committee on Finance on February 23, 1994. On behalf of the standing committee, I would like to thank those departments for presenting that information to us as requested.
The Department of Education suggested, in its presentation, that current levels of in-house video production be frozen with the future needs of the government being met by private sector productions. The standing committee agrees that this would be a reasonable first step and we encourage the department to follow through on that suggestion. Further, the committee suggested that the department take steps to actively stimulate private sector participation in meeting all of the video production needs of government departments.
In the presentation, the department said that most of the costs of the in-house video production go towards producing The Tube, a half-hour youth-oriented information show seen weekly on Television Northern Canada. The department provided the standing committee with estimates suggesting that producing this show privately would double the costs. However, the standing committee wants further information to substantiate that claim. The standing committee would like the department to provide further information about the detailed costs of producing The Tube. Specifically, committee Members want more detailed financial information which includes all the costs that would allow a direct comparison of private and public sector costs. As well, the standing committee suggested that the department contract the production of two episodes of The Tube to the private sector as a test case.
The standing committee Members feel that the public tendering process will provide a better estimate of the true cost of producing the show privately. With this information, the standing committee and the department are much more likely to make recommendations and decisions that will ensure the most effective use of the resources available to the government. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Culture And Careers