Louise Thibault

[Sponsorship Program, October 29th, 2004]

Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, department officials seem to be unable to locate the logo, this very expensive logo. May I venture a suggestion to the minister? Perhaps he should look around the shredder. He might have better luck.

[Sponsorship Program, October 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in response to my question, the Minister of Public Works assured us that his department is now guided by values such as openness, fairness and transparency.

Since he wants to be transparent, I have a very simple question for him. Where is the $620,000 logo?

[Sponsorship Program, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services has known for a week that $620,000 was spent on a logo.

Could the minister tell whether or not he has looked for, seen or located the logo? That is his responsibility.

[Sponsorship Program, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, since the Gomery commission started its proceedings, the Prime Minister, who systematically refuses to answer our questions, has been hiding behind the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

I have a question for the minister pertaining directly to his department. Several firms were contracted to design a logo for the Canada Information Office, at a cost of $620,000, but no one can find it.

Finding the logo, that is his responsibility. Where is this $620,000 logo?

[Dominique Brisson, October 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to emphasize today that, at the Gala Saturne designed to recognize the excellence and know-how of women farmers, Dominique Brisson, a sheep producer, was awarded the title of 2004 Woman Farmer of the Year by the Fédération des agricultrices du Québec.

I extend my warmest congratulations to Ms. Brisson on being so honoured. In fact, Ms. Brisson is following in the footsteps of my colleague, the hon. member for Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, who received this honour in 2003.

Ms. Brisson, whose farm business is located in Saint-Narcisse-de-Rimouski, deserves our praise, and it is my honour to convey it to her. She is an inspiration for young women farmers, obviously, but also for all those who, motivated by the desire to expand the frontiers of a promising commitment, are getting involved.

[Institut maritime du Québec, October 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to draw attention to the 60th anniversary of the Institut maritime du Québec. This diamond jubilee is proof that the IMQ is a gem, one we should be proud of but also one we need to put every effort into preserving.

Its reputation is second to none. Quebec and our great region of Rimouski are proud of it. Canada and the rest of the world call upon its expertise. The IMQ has earned pride of place among our knowledge institutions thanks to the determination and dynamism of its directors and the skill and professionalism of its teaching and support staff.

I congratulate the IMQ's management and staff on their excellence and wish the institute many more years to pursue its mission of education and leadership.

[Nobel Peace Prize, October 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman who has been telling people for the past quarter-century that every time we plant a tree we plant a seed for peace, has just been announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner for 2004.

She is the twelfth woman to receive this honour since the inception of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, and the first African woman.

Kenyan's Deputy Minister of the Environment, Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. Since its inception, this tree planting program has seen more than 30 million seeds for peace planted in Africa.

The purpose of this ecological project is to promote diversity, and it has created numerous jobs for women in decision-making positions while raising their position in society.

By growing trees for peace, she gives hope to humanity.

[Agriculture, October 7th, 2004]

Thank you Mr. Chair. I congratulate my colleague on his speech. I think is the third time I have heard the minister use the expression “I appreciate the challenges the family is meeting”, and I imagine he is referring to the challenges it faces along with many others,. I would like to know whether my colleague would agree with me that the minister, who was telling us just now that some of us were going to engage in rhetoric, should be reminded that these people are experiencing a drama and might perhaps appreciate his telling us what concrete actions he plans to take to truly help this regional segment of our economy, our farmers, who are immersed in this drama.

[Agriculture, October 7th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, before speaking to this debate, I would first like to thank the voters of Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques for putting their trust in me and electing me. I want to reiterate to everyone in my riding my commitment to represent them with integrity and vigour.

I thank my colleague, the member for Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, for her speech. I fully agree with her that the mad cow crisis never should have affected the agricultural industry in Quebec since, for a long time now, cattle producers in Quebec have been using rules that are stricter than in the rest of Canada.

The Lower St. Lawrence region was hit hard by this mad cow crisis, and is still suffering the consequences. I would like to quote the president of the Union des producteurs agricoles of the Lower St. Lawrence, Claude Guimond, who reiterated as recently as last week that, “There is a crisis, a serious crisis. It is huge and devastating.” He added that he truly feared for the future and that the producers felt abandoned by the government.

In the Lower St. Lawrence, this crisis affects more than 1,000 farms that have suffered losses in gross income estimated at roughly $17 million. The three RCMs that I have the privilege of representing, Rimouski-Neigette, Témiscouata and Les Basques, have roughly 50% of the affected farms. After deducting the assistance provided to the Lower St. Lawrence, there is still a real shortfall of $7 million for local farmers and action is urgently required.

I fully agree with what the hon. member said. The government has to act. The necessary measures have to be taken without delay in order to reopen the borders and to ensure that they stay open. The government should also use Quebec as a model for health regulations.

I heard the minister say that some problems and challenges are specific and unique to Quebec. I would like to ask my colleague if, in the whole issue of cull, she is prepared to remind the minister that we in Quebec are not only unique—which is regrettable in terms of our difficulties in this area—but that we are often very unique in finding solutions to our challenges.