Debates of Sept. 30th, 2005

Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we always try to make the tax rules of our country as fair and equitable as they can possibly be. I can assure the hon. gentleman that the well-being of children, preschool, in school and through post-secondary education, is a very high priority in which the government invests billions every year, paid for by the tax revenue that is raised from all our various sources.

Joy Smith Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, the education of the students in my riding of Kildonan--St. Paul and across Canada is at risk in this new school year because the government has avoided putting an educational amendment into the copyright law, Bill C-60. Schools cannot afford this added cost of paying for otherwise free materials from the Internet.

Will the government support an amendment to the legislation?

Robert Bouchard Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has made a commitment, with the Government of Quebec, to assume half the costs of widening highway 175. When the Minister of Transport was in the region this past August, he said that the additional costs would come from a number of federal programs. Now that same Minister of Transport is reneging on his commitment and refusing to assume 50% of the total costs of widening highway 175.

Does the minister intend to honour his commitment and recognize the 50-50 principle as stated?

Jean Lapierre Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member took the time to read the agreement signed by the Prime Minister and the premier on May 7, 2004, he would know that Canada and Quebec agree that their respective contributions to the project would be 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $262.5 million each, for phase one of the project. That is exactly what was in the agreement signed by the two of them.

For subsequent phases, we are going to negotiate with the Quebec minister of transport. Within a subsequent phase of the infrastructure program, we will—

Francis Scarpaleggia Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada.

The Sayabec community in the Lower St. Lawrence is reeling from the announced restructuring of the Uniboard plant and the loss of 200 jobs.

What does the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada intend to do to help this region?

Dominic LeBlanc Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table two certificates of nomination.

I am sure the first one should bring joy and happiness to all members of the House. Under Standing Order 111.1(1), I am tabling today a certificate of nomination of Audrey Elizabeth O'Brien to be Clerk of the House of Commons.

Dominic LeBlanc Beauséjour, NB

Mr. Speaker, with the reaction of members in the House perhaps we could proceed immediately to a motion to approve the nomination instead of it going to a committee, but we will leave that for another day.

I am also tabling a certificate of nomination with respect to a position on the Canadian Dairy Commission. This will be referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Sarmite Bulte Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I am pleased to table a petition in the House which draws the attention of the House to the fact that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has locked out 5,500 of its employees since August 15.

The petition calls upon the government to take immediate action to end this lockout. I respectfully ask that the government do so as quickly as possible.

Tony Martin Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition on behalf of my constituents.

The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that the community access program, CAP, is in the last year of its existence. The CAP initiative has greatly increased the number of Canadians able to take advantage of the social and economic benefits of computers and the Internet. The absence of CAP will be a step backwards in the Canadian government's ongoing goal to improve the quality of life for Canadian citizens and will contribute to increasing the current digital divide in many Canadian communities.

Therefore the petitioners request that Parliament refrain from ending the community access program.