Evidence of meeting #6 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was 2017.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Daniel Jean  Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Nicole Bourget  Assistant Deputy Minister, Sport, Major Events and Regions, Department of Canadian Heritage

9:35 a.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC

Talking about perspectives, I would like to draw your attention to something that I think is very relevant. My colleague, Tyrone, was just speaking about specific waves of immigration. I think that it might be desirable, beyond the celebration of the 150th anniversary, to celebrate the specific major steps and dates for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Are you planning something like this?

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

Yes, as you know, we have just created the new Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax. There is something I said to the new president and to the members of the museum's board of directors.

As you know, Pier 21 was part of the heritage long before it became a national museum a year ago. We want it to be a truly national museum. It's not just about immigrants who came from Europe. That wouldn't be enough in my opinion. We want the programming to truly be at the forefront of what we are seeing on the ground, in our major cities and in our regions. We want it to reflect the great diversity that exists in our communities of immigrants and new Canadians. We want them to be involved in this type of programming where they live and the programming to focus on the future and the next steps in immigration. We also want the programming to be available across the country and that the institution of the Canadian Museum of Immigration not only have a physical presence in Halifax, but that new media be used and that it be available in other museums in regions throughout the country.

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rob Moore

Thank you, Mr. Nantel.

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

I want to add that we will be appointing a new president very soon. There is a board. It's perhaps a very specific matter.

I suggest that this committee look at inviting

…the new president of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the president of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. You can ask them to come and appear as witnesses to talk about their vision for their institutions and how they can truly be pan-Canadian institutions. These are the first and only two national museums in Canada that are outside the national capital. They must understand the spirit of having a national museum that is not located in the national capital and that their approach should be pan-Canadian and not just local.

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rob Moore

Thank you, Mr. Nantel and Mr. Minister.

Mr. Gill.

October 20th, 2011 / 9:40 a.m.

Conservative

Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for taking the time out this morning to be with us. It's an honour to have you here. I want to thank you for the wonderful work you've been doing.

In the committee on Tuesday we looked at the Bay of Fundy as part of the seven wonders of the modern world competition. We learned what a success it has been in introducing youth to the concept of voting and the democratic process in general. For many, this was the first time they were able to cast a vote on something that truly mattered.

Can you discuss the importance of encouraging the involvement of youth in part of these important celebrations?

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

Does Rodney Weston want to answer that question?

9:40 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

9:40 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

Yes, moments like this, where we actually can get Canadians.... By the way, a member of Parliament from Brampton asking about the Bay of Fundy is a good thing. People talking about Canadian history and culture beyond their regions, and understanding and promoting that is a good thing, because it only unites the country.

I used to say this all the time...I don't know if it's true anymore, but it used to be true about 10 or 15 years ago when I gave the speech. It used to be true in Quebec that the younger the population, the higher the proportion of people who identified with the Bloc Québécois or the separatist movement. I always thought to myself that it was such a shame, because if anybody actually had the opportunity to visit across the country, if they looked out over the Chilcotin plateau at dawn or dusk, if they got to go to Gander, if they saw Cape Spear, if they visited downtown Toronto, and if they ate in a restaurant in Edmonton, they would understand the diversity of this country and they would say: “What are we talking about? Why in the world would anybody consider leaving the greatest country in the world?”

People don't have the resources to visit and travel this country as we members of Parliament do. It's a great privilege, by the way, as a member of Parliament, to get to understand and visit this country the way we do. So few Canadians have that benefit. Therefore, in turn, it comes to us as a responsibility to use institutions and the tools at our disposal as a government to make sure Canadians understand these things.

People should know about the Bay of Fundy and the tides, what they mean and have meant, and how gorgeous it is there, and they should be able to point it out on a map and talk about it. I think that's a good thing. I think this is something I'm going to be talking about more, certainly as we go to 2017, but also at the federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of culture meetings coming up, and, going forward, to encourage them to adopt a more robust plan with regard to teaching history. It has to happen for the good of the country.

Not to be a political analyst, there's one thing that does concern me a little. People look at the House of Commons and say, “Oh well, the Bloc Québécois is down to four seats in the House, so I guess we don't have to worry about that.” Well no, these debates are cyclical. I think Canadians become alienated from one another when we become lazy about being proud of being Canadians, being proud of our institutions and regions, and talking about them to each other.

I don't think the political expression of May 2 can be taken as an expression of full success in defeating anybody's appetite for more regional politics or regional divisions. I think we should take this as a window of opportunity over the coming four years to take things like 2017 and breathe a new energy into patriotism across the country, to really seize the moment. This is how I would see it.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON

Thank you.

You also mentioned that the Queen's diamond jubilee is coming up next year. What kind of celebrations do we have planned and what can people do to get involved?

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

All members of Parliament will be involved in this as well. Hold on a second. I have to ask....

Okay. We are giving out diamond jubilee medals. I had to ask because I couldn't remember if we had already announced that or not--

9:45 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

We have. Okay. There we are.

Many of you will remember that in the second year of Jean Chrétien's last term it was the golden jubilee of Her Majesty, her 50th anniversary as the Queen of Canada. Sheila Copps, then the heritage minister, and Jean Chrétien had a golden jubilee medal program. It was largely a success. We are going to revisit that, but we're actually, I think, improving on it.

As is always the case, there were just unforeseen challenges and problems with the golden jubilee program, which was overwhelmingly a success, but we've tweaked, upgraded, and fixed this. I think it'll be embraced by all members of Parliament going forward. The diamond jubilee is a very big part of our calendar in the next year in terms of identifying institutions that are important to Canada's past, present, and future. Members of Parliament will be involved in this. Those of you here who were members of Parliament in 2002, although I don't think there are many, actually--I think I'm the only one--will note that it was a great program.

As for what it is, basically, each of us as a member of Parliament is allocated a number of medals to give to Canadians of accomplishment in our districts. It will be a way for members of Parliament to draw up Canadians of great achievement who live in their districts and to highlight them and their accomplishments for your community and, by extension, for all Canadians.

The diamond jubilee program is quite broad in its scope. I'll have even more to say on it very soon. It will involve all members of Parliament of all parties in a very non-partisan way, as a way of celebrating the diamond jubilee and also making sure that Canadians have an opportunity to know other Canadians who have achieved great things for their community.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rob Moore

Thank you, Mr. Gill.

Ms. Boutin-Sweet, you will get the last question.

Minister, you said you would stay an extra five minutes, so that gives us time for one last question.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

Yes. It's just because I have House duty. That's why I have to leave.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

Thank you for staying. I appreciate it.

I also feel that the lack of communication and the lack of knowledge of people throughout the country causes problems. I would like to go back to a few things you said about that.

You spoke about national dialogue, of symbols and of a responsible government. I'll go back to what my colleague said about the Pointe-à-Callière project. I think you visited the museum this summer. They found the remains of the first Parliament of United Canada from 1844, when the responsible government was created.

I would like to hear what you have to say about that. In my opinion, it would be a very important permanent legacy for Canadian unity. And it's in Montreal. We could also talk about the French fact and the English fact, which would be unifying.

I would like to hear your comments about that please.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

I'm not aware of a proposal for such an event. But, certainly, the start of the responsible government is an event that we should be proud of, as Canadians, as Quebeckers, as Montrealers. It is very important for the region to highlight that fact. If there is a proposal, I'm certain it will be supported by the city and the province. If there is a sensible proposal that could apply to our programming, we'll look at it.

9:50 a.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

Could we talk about possible permanent infrastructures?

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

We will see. I can't answer you right now. But this could be part of their proposal. We are open to this type of discussion and we want to work with them. When they have decided on programming and what they would like to see as a legacy, we will be able to talk to them about what they need.

9:50 a.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

I think this is one of Montreal's three priorities for 2017.

My second question is about first nations. How do we plan to involve the first nations in these celebrations? Have any specific projects already been thought out?

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

We will have round tables around the country and discussions in the various regions. As I already said, my perspective has its limits. I'm from the west coast. It would be arrogant for me or any government or committee to say that people have to accept our vision, that we have considered what they have said and to present them with our programming. We are going to hold round tables and make visits.

We will consult aboriginals on how they would like to celebrate the 150th anniversary. Their proposals will certainly be a large part of the celebrations. As Mr. Brown said, the 2010 Olympic Games were also a very special event. There were major victories in 2010 in sports, culture and official languages. The involvement of aboriginals was unparalleled in such a large event. It was higher than in 1988 or 1976. In my opinion, it was a benchmark for this type of event. We will certainly copy that approach to involve aboriginals in 2017.

9:50 a.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

I fully agree with you. I was very proud of that part. But there is a small concern. There wasn't enough French during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. I hope that will be kept in mind for the 2017 celebrations.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC

But as for the Olympic Games themselves, the Grand Témoin de la Francophonie said that it was hard to do better when it came to the level of bilingualism at that event. It was a big success. It's true that the opening ceremonies were one thing, but it was a great success overall. I think that's important.

9:50 a.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

Thank you very much.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rob Moore

Thank you, Minister, for being here today. It was very informative

Some of your officials are going to be staying behind for some more questions,but thank you once again. We look forward to having you here again.

We'll suspend for a few minutes until the officials come to the table.