Maka Kotto

[Youth Programming and Animation, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, had the usual ratio been respected, the youth and animation sector would have received $207 million in 2004, rather than the meagre $17 million that it did receive.

Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage intend to take the necessary steps to put an end to the shameless pillaging of funds earmarked for French language youth and animation series?

[Youth Programming and Animation, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, a major study by SARTEC and UDA was released this week. It indicates that federal government actions have contributed to the decline of French language youth and animation series. According to the report, out of the $1.4 billion that went to animation, only 11% was for French language series. I should point out that these were often Canada-France co-productions and that many programs are dubbed abroad.

I would therefore ask, most calmly and politely, what the Minister of Canadian Heritage intends to do to remedy this situation.

[Official Languages Act, February 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Official Languages Act in its current form already includes all the necessary tools for the federal government to ensure the full development of official language minority communities.

Can the hon. member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell enlighten us on the reasons why his government has not reached its goals with the original act, after so many years?

[Broadcasting, February 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the quality and diversity of news sources in the Montreal region are at stake here. The CRTC ruling will result in there being more English language newsrooms in Montreal than French ones. The minister has the power to intervene.

Will she then promise to act on the request by the CKAC employees' union and call on the CRTC to review its decision?

[Broadcasting, February 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the union of CKAC employees decided to appeal the CRTC decision announced on January 21, which gave CKAC the go-ahead for its sale to Corus. Through this appeal, the union plans to ask the government to review the CRTC decision.

Now that the union has made an official request, does the Minister of Canadian Heritage plan to act on it?

[Arts and Culture, February 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, on January 28, 2005, a number of well-known arts organizations joined with the Conseil québécois du théâtre in sending a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs, in which they expressed their serious concerns about the possible impact of a 35% cut to the arts promotion program of that department.

Is it the minister's intention to protect our culture abroad, either by increasing the funding to support international tours outside of the public diplomacy program , or by allocating specific funds for this to the Canada Council for the Arts?

[Department of Foreign Affairs Act, February 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my colleague for his very eloquent speech. His reference to South Africa was very relevant.

We know now that Quebec's destiny today is defined by a logic of dependency. It is not simply a question of the technical separation of international trade and foreign affairs. This would take us into issues with broader ramifications in terms of values that we share, or maybe that we do not share, in light of what I am hearing from the members opposite.

I ask my colleague if such a thing could be considered in a sovereign Quebec.

[Broadcasting, February 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the government has the power to ask the CRTC to reconsider its decision. Therefore, I will repeat my question.

Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us whether or not she intends to use that power, that privilege, and ask the CRTC to reconsider its decision?

[Broadcasting, February 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the CRTC approved the sale of the Radiomédia stations, including CKAC, to the Corus group. This CRTC decision will result in the closure of CKAC's newsroom and in the loss of some 20 jobs, and this will adversely affect Montreal's francophone information sector.

In the name of the right of Montreal's francophones to information, will the minister ask the CRTC to reconsider its decision to avoid the paradox of Montreal's having fewer French newsrooms than English ones?

[Black History Month, February 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, history teaches us that the best way to alter or wipe out the identity of a people or a group of people who identify with one homeland is to cut off its historical and cultural memory. We can clearly see that a tree without roots is a tree that will die.

For a number of years now, February has been a time to remember the role played by Africans and their descendants in ancient, recent and contemporary history.

Children and grandchildren of African descent have a great hunger for role models. In fact, they have great need of role models with whom to identify in order to reach their full potential.

Many thanks to all those women and men in Quebec and in Canada who keep on fighting, not counting the hours or the energy spent, in order to ensure that Black History Month will continue.