Debates of Nov. 1st, 2004
House of Commons Hansard #19 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreement.
Topics
- Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act
- Dystonia
- Health
- Doug Bennett
- Donald Dion
- Green Infrastructure
- 2004 Paralympic Summer Games
- Riel Awards
- Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Athletes
- Michael Wallace Community Playground
- Agriculture
- Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Athletes
- Paralympic and Olympic Athletes
- Israel
- ADISQ Gala
- Canada Cancer Crusade
- Arts and Culture
- Natural Resources
- Child Care
- Privacy
- National Defence
- Sponsorship Program
- Child Care
- Aerospace Industry
- Foreign Affairs
- Terrorism
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Sport Canada
- Social Development
- Natural Resources
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Aerospace Industry
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Official Languages
- Broadcasting
- Sports
- Health
- Immigration
- Forestry Industry
- Presence in Gallery
- Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Athletes
- Criminal Code
- Contraventions Act
- Telefilm Canada Act
- Committees of the House
- Parliament of Canada Act
- Income Tax Act
- Internet Child Pornography Prevention Act
- Income Tax Act
- Employment Insurance Act
- Criminal Code
- Official Languages Act
- Committees of the House
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act
- Criminal Code
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Casson Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, the most basic function of any self-government agreement is finality between the first nation and the Government of Canada. The Tlicho agreement now being put forward by the government fails in this most basic duty. In the case of Nisga’a, the agreement was a final agreement with a release of a definition of the section 35 rights recognized.
Why has the government not protected the interests of Canadians by negotiating a final agreement?
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Fredericton
New Brunswick
Liberal
Andy Scott Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the legislation that is presently before the House will go to committee. The reality is, this is good legislation and it is long overdue. On this side of the House, we are proud of the Tlicho agreement.
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Casson Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the minister does not know what he is talking about and he does not have the answers to these serious questions here today.
The Nisga'a agreement states:
This Agreement constitutes the full and final settlement in respect of the aboriginal rights, including aboriginal title, in Canada of the Nisga'a Nation.
Therefore, I ask the minister again, why has he failed in his duty to Canadians to achieve the finality of other agreements with the Tlicho?
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Fredericton
New Brunswick
Liberal
Andy Scott Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
Mr. Speaker, it is comprehensive, it is complete and it is supported by the community and by the government. They will have every opportunity in committee to discuss it further.
Official Languages
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Don Boudria Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, in the case of the Forum des maires de la Péninsule acadienne, asking that the Official Languages Act be made executory, the Minister of Justice objected to the motion for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. I would like to know why.
Also, would the minister not agree that it is time to pass legislation, like Bill S-3 for example, to clarify Canada's Official Languages Act and to make it executory?
Official Languages
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Mount Royal
Québec
Liberal
Irwin Cotler Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have objected to the motion for leave to appeal in this case because the legal issues involved have become theoretical. The initial problem of violation of the right to receive services and communications in French was resolved. As the Attorney General, it was my duty to point out to the Supreme Court the theoretical nature of this case.
I would like to emphasize that this government encourages the development of official language communities in Canada. Development is a matter of identity, a matter of access to justice—
Official Languages
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Edmonton—Leduc.
Broadcasting
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
James Rajotte Edmonton—Leduc, AB
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Americans will go to the polls to select their president and their congressional leadership. Canadians will be watching this election very closely. Unfortunately, their viewing choices are limited, as the most popular American news channel, Fox News, is not allowed to broadcast in this country.
Could the Minister of Canadian Heritage explain why her government will not allow Fox News to broadcast in Canada?
Broadcasting
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Jeanne-Le Ber
Québec
Liberal
Liza Frulla Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, as hon. members know, out of market radio stations must apply through the CRTC. The CRTC determines whether or not a given station can broadcast in Canada. For example, RAI, an Italian radio station, is currently under consideration at the CRTC, and we anxiously await its conclusion.
Broadcasting
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
James Rajotte Edmonton—Leduc, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is actually slightly incorrect to state that Fox News is not broadcast in Canada because there is one place in Canada where Fox News is broadcast, and that is on Parliament Hill.
The Liberals prevent this channel from being shown to ordinary Canadians because it might be scary, but at the same they can view it from their offices in Ottawa.
Why the double standard? Why do the Liberals deny to Canadians a news channel that they themselves enjoy?
Broadcasting
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Jeanne-Le Ber
Québec
Liberal
Liza Frulla Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, first, I think that we are all very well served in terms of information in Canada. Second, there is also a need to protect, on the one hand, access to information and, on the other hand, our Canadian industries. These Canadian industries account for $26 billion and 740,000 jobs in Canada.
Sports
Oral Question Period
November 1st, 2004 / 2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, despite the new money the minister responsible for sport has announced, a top athlete not classified as elite but with serious potential for reaching the Olympic or Paralympic Games in Beijing, receives a measly $900 a month. This athlete has to train several hours a day to qualify among the best in his discipline, but unlike an elite athlete, has little chance of being sponsored.
Does the minister responsible for sport understand that this new developmental athlete assistance is still not enough to live on—
Sports
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State for Sport.
Sports
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Vancouver Quadra
B.C.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member for his position as sports critic. I know of his eminent sports background himself.
The developmental athlete assistance has been increased from $500 a month tax free to $900 a month tax free this year. This is an extraordinarily important increase. I hope we can build on that both for direct living expense assistance such as this as well as more assistance for coaching, equipment, sports science and hosting of international events, so these young athletes can get more exposure to high competition at an earlier stage in our country.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Paul Szabo Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. In the last Parliament we dealt with a motion on fetal alcohol syndrome, more specifically to consider the advisability of health warning labels on the containers of alcoholic beverages.
The vote on the motion was 220 to 11, a 95% support level by members of Parliament. Would the Minister of Health please advise the House of his position on this important child health initiative?