Sarmite Bulte

[Budget Implementation Act, 1998, May 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, every Canadian needs and deserves an equal chance to live up to his or her full potential. I am in favour of the legislation establishing the millennium scholarship foundation because it will help Canadians reach their goals. In so doing it will also play a part in helping our country live up to its full potential.

No nation can rely solely on its resources in the ground for economic growth. In today's global economy and in the growing knowledge economy of the future the key to economic success is the development of our human resources.

Quite simply we need to have a highly skilled, highly adaptable and highly motivated workforce if we are to continue to prosper into the next century and beyond. The new reality for every Canadian is that getting and keeping a job in the growing knowledge economy demands ever higher levels of learning.

As we all know the result is that not everyone has the financial means to take advantage of the learning opportunities that are out there. It is certainly true that the Canada student loans program and provincial student programs have helped millions of young people over the years including myself. Indeed without these essential supports many thousands of low and middle income young people would not have been able to participate at all.

Even so, today far too many people are facing enormous student debt burden upon graduation. Too many others are simply not going on to post-secondary institutions because the costs are just too high. We all recognize that the problem has become progressively worse and that there is a need to act.

Last November a national all stakeholders working session on Canada student loans brought students, teachers, administrators, federal and provincial governments, lenders, colleges and universities together to reach consensus on student assistance reform.

The Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities undertook an extensive study of the issue. It consulted Canadians across the country and the report it tabled last December made 16 specific recommendations for change. At its meeting last December the Prime Minister and the premiers made a commitment to work together to reduce student debt.

As hon. members know, in response to these recommendations and discussions the Minister of Finance outlined the Canadian opportunities strategy in the budget of last February, a strategy that directly reflects the sentiments and the directions offered by many Canadians.

It is a seven-part strategy that puts the following measures into place: to help graduates manage growing debt; to give Canadians access to the financing required to upgrade their skills throughout their careers; to help families pay for their children's education; to help graduate and post-graduate students continue to develop their skills and carry out research that benefits the whole country; to help young people make the transition from school to work; to help connect Canadians to the information age technology; and to greatly improve access to learning by helping students in financial need cope with the increasing cost of education.

In the time remaining I would like to concentrate my remarks on the last point, in particular the Canada millennium scholarship foundation. The endowment that the Canada millennium scholarship foundation will manage is the largest single investment ever made by the federal government in support of access to post-secondary education for all Canadians.

I agree with what the Prime Minister said in the House when he announced this initiative last fall. There can be no greater millennium project for Canada and no better role for government than to help young Canadians prepare for the knowledge based society of the next century.

The 10 year endowment of $2.5 billion will provide over 100,000 scholarships to low and middle income students every year for the next decade. The scholarships will be available to young and old, to full time and part time students. Students in universities as well as students in community colleges, technology institutes and other post-secondary education systems will all be eligible. That is over one million new scholarships.

We believe that a million new scholarships devoted to equalizing access to learning is a fitting way to commemorate the next millennium, a millennium in which all societies will look more and more to the knowledge, skills and creative intelligence of their people for growth and prosperity. Contrary to the assertions of some people, the Canada millennium scholarship foundation does not intrude into a provincial area of jurisdiction. Quite the opposite. It will help more people benefit from the educational opportunities provided by provincial governments.

Hon. members can understand our deep disappointment when the Government of Quebec chose to break off the discussions on the Canada millennium scholarships. Our government demonstrated much flexibility during negotiations with the Government of Quebec to ensure the alignment of a new foundation with the Quebec system.

There is nothing new in our desire to help people help themselves. Since Confederation the federal government has helped people improve their education. Following the second world war for example, thousands of returning soldiers benefited from grants to help them upgrade their skills and rejoin the peacetime economy.

Today, in addition to the Canada student loans, several billion dollars each year are transferred to the provincial governments in Canada health and social transfers to help fund post-secondary education, social assistance and health care.

We believe as do most Canadians that all governments have a role to play in providing everyone with an opportunity to improve themselves, an opportunity for a better life for themselves and for their families.

If the Government of Quebec would accept the principle of the millennium scholarships for what it really is, namely an ad hoc and unique contribution to help young people access opportunities in the new economy, it would be proud to be associated with this initiative.

The Quebec government can rest assured that the foundation will be able to build on the existing needs assessment processes and complement provincial efforts to provide accessible, affordable post-secondary education to all its citizens.

The foundation will have nothing at all to do with determining curricula, setting tuition levels or managing educational institutions. Those are questions for the provincial governments and the institutions themselves. That has been clear from the very beginning.

As the Prime Minister has said in the House, we are satisfied that this bill gives us the needed flexibility to resolve the situation in a reasonable manner.

An independent foundation will manage the fund. It will not be run by government but by private citizens. Among other things, this fund will also facilitate a greater degree of student mobility, allowing students the opportunity to complete all or part of their studies in different parts of Canada.

With it we are marking a unique event in the history of our country, a passage into the new millennium. At the same time we are also improving the prospects of all Canadian students by giving them a better chance at starting the next millennium with the skills and knowledge they will need to become full and contributing members of this economy.

Again, I believe that every Canadian deserves the chance to live up to his or her full potential. I believe that this legislation will help them do just that. I sincerely hope that all hon. members of the House will give it their enthusiastic support.

[Chiapas, May 14th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa.

Will the Government of Canada be imposing economic sanctions in response to the work of the parliamentary delegation returning from Chiapas?

[Parkdale Clean-Up Day, May 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 9, Parkdale Collegiate Institute held is fourth annual community clean-up day in Parkdale.

First, I thank and congratulate the 200 volunteers who participated in that day. I also mention the strong support given to the clean-up day by the Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Committee, the Parkdale Village BIA, as well as the other community based groups that contributed so much to Saturday's success.

In particular I underline the hard work and tremendous community spirit of two of Parkdale Collegiate's students, Rahel Beigel and Kevin Brijlal, who were the student co-ordinators for this year's event.

The benefits of a community clean-up day are plain to see. A more attractive neighbourhood encourages people to spend their time there and allows businesses to flourish but, more important, such activity also fosters a true sense of belonging. Safe and clean communities are prosperous communities, and prosperous communities are safe and clean communities.

It is a pleasure to salute such community spirit and I thank them all for their hard work.

[Polish Constitution, May 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Polish Canadians and in particular to the Polish community in my riding of Parkdale—High Park who yesterday celebrated the 207th anniversary of the Polish constitution.

May 3 is a national holiday for Poles, a day to reflect on and celebrate the heritage and ideals of humanitarianism, tolerance and democracy.

The constitution of May 3, 1791 was the first liberal constitution in Europe and second in the world, after the constitution of the United States. It was an attempt to secure rights for broad sections of the population and to mobilize the nation against rising threats to independence. The constitution of 1791 was the instrument that gave rise to parliamentary supremacy. It also gave Polish citizens new found access to parliament.

Constitution day is a proud heritage for Canadians of Polish descent and a confirmation of the basic values and freedoms of our society.

[Ytv Youth Achievement Awards, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the YTV Youth Achievement Awards were held last night in Toronto.

These awards celebrate the achievements and successes of ordinary Canadian kids doing extraordinary things in disciplines ranging from acting, music and dance to bravery, business, science and technology.

This past fall over 1,300 nominations were received from across the country. A distinguished panel of judges recently deliberated over the 147 finalists, choosing 16 grand prize winners in 15 categories for this year's awards.

Last night 26 outstanding young Canadians were featured in a live variety showcase broadcast nationally on YTV. The awards show combined great entertainment with inspirational stories and a celebration of great performances by talented young Canadians.

Today's youth are Canada's future leaders. Last night's winners are indeed testimony to the quality and capabilities of our young Canadian people. My congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and—

[Foreign Affairs, March 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In light of recent newspaper coverage and an incident concerning a constituent of mine, can the minister tell this House what discussions he or his officials have had with the United States administration regarding the apparent heavy-handed treatment of Canadians at the Canada-U.S. border?

[The Economy, March 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, three programs were announced by the Minister of Canadian Heritage prior to the release of the budget: the additional $25 million to the Canada Council, an increase of $15 million in support for our publishing industry, and an additional $50 million to cover athletes and coaches.

Most important, what I would like to talk about is the government's renewal of the Canada television and cable production fund. This fund represents a uniquely successful blend of public and private funding. It joins government and cable industry contributed moneys to enhance the broadcast presence of high quality Canadian programs.

Last year the fund supported from 19,600 full and part time jobs throughout Canada. I must emphasize it was throughout Canada. Most of these jobs were in highly specialized skilled and were well paid jobs. The direct economic spin-off benefits are in the range of $625 million.

There also exists further economic benefits to those small and medium size businesses that supply services as a result of this increase in production activity.

The funds objectives are clear: to increase the quality and quantity of Canadian programming available to Canadians on television, to assist job creation and growth in all regions of Canada, to enhance the capacity to produce and distribute domestic television programs, to maintain and increase broadcast presence of distinct Canadian programs, and to encourage greater export opportunities.

The fund is financed by the Department of Canadian Heritage, Telefilm Canada and the cable industry's former cable production fund. In its first year of operation the new television and cable production fund has made possible a record number of 2,221 hours of Canadian programming that reflect the dynamic increased talents of Canadians and reach wide audiences both at home and abroad.

At a time when Canadians watch an average of 24 hours of television a week we must realize that this medium is our primary source of entertainment, information and news.

Coupled with the size and resources of the television industry of our neighbours to the south there exists a real danger of Canadians, young and old but especially our young people, our future, knowing more about the United States than about their own country, Canada.

The renewal of the fund represents not only the government's commitment to Canadian television but recognizes the positive economic impact of Canada's arts industry.

A country's real strength lies in its people. The arts and the culture of a people are the expressions of their heart and soul. It is the movies, television, music, painting, dance and theatre that enable Canadians to laugh, talk and cry together. Through them we can express our identity, our similarities and differences.

The production fund is a proven success, culturally and economically. The government's decision to extend the program is recognition of that success and of the importance we attach to Canadian cultural expression.

Canadians have a right to see and hear their own stories on television, the most powerful cultural medium of our time. Canadians deserve Canadian programming.

The renewal of the Canada television and cable production fund will go a long way to achieve this end. To date the fund has delivered more than 2,200 hours of high quality prime time programming from all regions in Canada. Without funding from the fund, many of these projects would never reach television audiences in Canada.

This is not just good news for television. This fund in particular was good news for the CBC. The 1996 cable production fund brought critical new resources to CBC schedules.

In 1996-97 the fund supported independent production for CBC-SRC totalling $91 million and produced $218 million in overall program budgets. The fund supported independent production for CBC-SRC totalling some 384 hours in 1996-97 with over 300 more new hours projected for 1997-98.

The CBC's Canadianization of English television and the significant enrichment of French television could not have happened without the fund.

There was the establishment of quotas for access to funds investment and licence fee components by independent producers working with the CBC. Half of the fund's moneys went to fund CBC programming production.

This targeted predictable funding has partially offset other funding cuts. It has permitted the CBC's television services to pursue national cultural objectives that would not otherwise be obtainable.

The broadcast schedules are unique in the volume and distinctiveness of their identifiably Canadian programming, from Omertà and Urgence to Wind at My Back and Black Harbour , from Juste pour rire to The Red Green Show . There are programs that arise from both the major centres and the regions of Canada, from Riverdale to North of 60 and from Watatatow to L'Ame d'un peuple . There are programs that affect all of Canada's peoples and reflect the way we look at each other.

As I stated this is just the beginning of our reinvestment into the arts. One of the things the public has sometimes felt is that when we are investing in the arts we are only investing in arts organizations. That is not true. The message we must bring to all Canadians is that when we invest in the arts, we are also investing in our economic and social well-being.

Recently the Canadian Conference of the Arts published a discussion paper “Arts in Transition Project”. It looked at how and why the Canadian public should justify public sector funding. I would like to conclude by reading from this report.

No reasonable Canadian believes that the purpose of our health care system is to employ doctors. No one complains that our legal system exists only to pay judges—.We value our health care, legal, and educational systems because of the fundamental benefits they make available to all Canadians who want or need them, whether or not specific individuals ever go to a hospital, take a case to court, or study at a post-secondary institution.

I would challenge our arts and culture industries and the government to work together with the public to show once again that our strategic reinvestment in the arts and culture industries is not just to benefit the artists and arts organizations, but is to benefit Canadians and our economic and social well-being as a whole.

[The Economy, March 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is truly a privilege and honour to rise this evening to speak to the first balanced budget since 1970.

While the credit undoubtedly goes to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister for their vision and leadership, primarily first and foremost it must go to all Canadians. Without the partnership that existed between the government and Canadians from coast to coast in our first mandate and our subsequent re-election on June 2, a balanced budget would not have been possible.

Some other good news from the budget of 1998 is a guarantee of consecutive balanced budgets for 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

While hon. members from across the floor may disagree with aspects of the budget, they must accept at the outset that a balanced budget is a good start. Many of my colleagues have talked about the wonderful aspects for education the budget gives our youth in retraining and the vision of the budget as an educational budget.

I would like to concentrate in my 10 minutes on actually talking about the government's renewal of the arts and cultural industries in Canada. I submit that the budget already sets the stage for dialogue about the strategic reinvestment in our arts and cultural industries. In the budget it is clear that we are again promoting Canadian culture.

[Soulpepper Theatre Company, March 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Toronto, 12 of Canada's leading theatrical artists joined forces for the launch of that city's first classical repertory company.

Martha Burns, Susan Coyne, Ted Dykstra, Michael Hanrahan, Stuart Hughes, Robyn Stevan, William Webster, Joseph Ziegler and artistic directors Diana Leblanc, Diego Matamoros, Nancy Palk and Albert Schultz are the founding members of the Soulpepper Theatre Company.

This company will present vital Canadian interpretations of the classics while providing professional training for classical theatre.

The company's inaugural season will be directed by its first guest master director, Robin Phillips, and produced in association with the Harbourfront Centre. Joining the company for the inaugural season are two of Canada's most celebrated actors, Brent Carver and Peter Donat.

I wish the members of Soulpepper the best of success on this very exciting initiative.

[Multilateral Agreement On Investment, February 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.

Constituents are calling my office and other members' offices regarding the negotiation of the multilateral agreement on investment. Individuals in my riding are particularly concerned about the impact the agreement will have on Canadian culture.

What is the minister's position on preserving our rights to promote and protect Canadian culture during these negotiations?