Diane St-Jacques

[Community Organizations, June 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in the riding of Mercier, there are three community organizations, Résidence Emmanuel Gregory, Pavillon Emmanuel Gregory, and Pavillon Prospère Boulanger. They serve people in conflict with the law, offering housing, assistance and monitoring in order to help offenders to reintegrate society in a responsible and respectful manner, and thus help to prevent crime.

This past April, the federal government increased their annual budget by 16%, which translates concretely into close to $300,000 more for these three centres in the riding of Mercier. This will enable them to enhance the quality of the services provided.

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention the excellent contribution made by the volunteers in Quebec's 25 halfway houses, who help offenders to take control of their lives and return to society. Their community actions improve the quality of life for everyone.

[Older Workers, June 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, when older workers lose their job we know they have a hard time getting back into the workforce. Former employees at the Fruit of the Loom plant are in this situation. These older workers, most of them women, were unable to find another job after the plant was closed.

Could the minister tell us what the government is doing to help them get back into the workforce?

[Millennium Scholarships, May 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation has distributed its awards of excellence for 2002-03.

One hundred and nineteen graduates in Quebec were awarded scholarships in recognition of their academic achievement, community involvement, leadership and innovation.

I would like to congratulate two young people from my riding, Christine Bergeron, a student at Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur in Granby, and Julie Bergeron, a student at the Granby-Haute-Yamaska cegep, both of whom received awards of excellence.

Winning this award represents a unique moment in the life of a student. It is a reward which recognizes the academic achievement of our young people.

Created through the initiative of the Government of Canada, these awards represent a major investment in the future of our students. They are a fine way to promote academic excellence.

Once again, my congratulations to Christine and Julie. Canada enjoys great wealth in the promise of its youth, and they are a shining example.

[Infrastructure Program, May 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share with the House of Commons the news of a construction project. A multipurpose performance space will be built in the city of Saint-Hyacinthe, in Quebec, funded by the Canada-Quebec infrastructure program.

The financial contribution of the Government of Canada is in excess of $3 million.

The City of Saint-Hyacinthe will therefore be able to continue to fulfill its role as the cultural hub for the Montérégie region. The direct economic fallout from this investment is estimated at $1.5 billion, and it will help revive the downtown area of Saint-Hyacinthe.

My congratulations to the artists and creators of the 30 or so cultural organizations of Saint-Hyacinthe, the cultural council and the Société des diffiseurs de spectacles, as well as the municipal councillors, who have made this project possible.

The Government of Canada is proud to be associated with a project of such importance to this community.

[Status of Women, April 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Bloc Quebecois implied that a woman cannot have a career in politics and maintain her independence with respect to her spouse's commitments.

Does the Bloc Quebecois believe that all of the women elected from its ranks merely represent the men in their lives?

Does the Bloc Quebecois believe that a woman, such as Quebec's minister of finance for example, cannot sit in the National Assembly in an independent manner because her husband has an important position at the Société générale de financement?

We on this side of the House believe that all women who choose a career in politics can carry out their duties honourably. We believe that the world of politics must reflect Canadian society, a society in which there are women. The contribution of women to parliament is invaluable and essential.

[Residents of the riding of Rosemont--Petite-Patrie, April 24th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House of the generous contributions made by the residents of Rosemont--Petite-Patrie to the fundraising campaign organized by the parish of Saint-Ambroise to renovate the interior of their church.

This church is used as a gathering place for a great many residents, for both religious and social purposes. The church has been able to preserve a part of its history and charm thanks to the donations that were collected.

Renovations, which were begun in January, have restored the floor and the choir of the church which dates back to 1925 and is the work of the famous architect Ernest Cormier.

Once again, I congratulate the residents of Rosemont--Petite-Patrie for their generosity and their involvement in the community.

[Grands Prix du tourisme, April 17th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, last week marked the Grands Prix du tourisme de la Montérégie, and the city of Rougemont in my riding of Shefford did very well for itself. The Cidrerie Michel Jodoin and the Théâtre de Rougemont both came away with awards in the tourist attraction category.

The cider makers, Cidrerie Michel Jodoin, added one more award to the many they have collected over the years for their work, their quality products and the touristic visibility they bring to the region.

As for the Théâtre de Rougemont, they have brought us six years of entertainment with the top quality plays they stage, and their audiences are constantly growing.

I would suggest a trip to our area along the cider route, with a visit to the Cidrerie to taste their delicious nectar, followed by one of the productions of the Théâtre de Rougemont.

In closing, my sincere congratulations to the award winners. I also wish them good luck in Hull on May 10, when they will be competing in the Grands Prix du tourisme for all of Quebec.

[Racial Discrimination, March 21st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, today, March 21, is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Here in Canada, we mark this day with the March 21 campaign, designed to heighten awareness of the harmful effects of racism on a national scale.

Canadians from all over the country are taking this opportunity to proclaim together that we will not tolerate racism in our schools, workplaces and streets.

We are a diversified people, but we all share the same respect for this diversity. Canada is a unique nation. We decided a long time ago to take advantage of the numerous benefits of openness to the world. Today, our success shows that we made the right decision.

The March 21 campaign is an opportunity to realize that we must continue to work together to eliminate racism in Canada and around the world.

[Madagascar, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks, we have been following the general election in Madagascar.

In spite of an inconclusive first ballot, the opposition candidate declared himself the winner and then enjoined his supporters to go on a general strike and to organize protests. According to the latest news, there are now two parallel governments and two capitals.

Could the Secretary of State for Latin America, Africa and the Francophonie tell us what Canada is doing to try to solve this issue?

[Young Offenders, February 20th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the act in respect of criminal justice for young persons received royal assent. This act is a key component of the measures which allow the government to deliver on its commitment to renew the justice system for young people in order to make it fairer and more effective. It is my understanding that the government wants to have the legislation take effect in April 2003.

Will the minister tell the House what lay behind such a decision?