Gilbert Normand

[Pulp And Paper Industry, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her interesting question.

On Friday, February 11, I announced a $9 million investment by Technology Partnerships Canada in research into the latest environmental technologies for reducing pollution from Canadian pulp and paper plants.

Research will be done by PAPRICAN, the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada in Pointe-Claire, Quebec—which proves that research is being done in Quebec—and will generate 176 senior level jobs in Pointe-Claire. This project is indicative of the importance to Canada's future of investing in the knowledge economy and in this way we will work to build—

[Research, December 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, following the throne speech, the Prime Minister announced an investment of $180 million over three years to establish 2,000 university research chairs in order to support our universities.

Following the budget, the Minister of Finance increased the budget of the Canadian foundation for innovation to $1 billion. Last week, the Minister of Health announced the creation of the Canadian institutes of health research.

I myself announced last week a $1 million prize, the Gerhard Herzberg prize for research, a prize that may be awarded in amounts of $200,000 a year for five years to continue research.

[Canada Foundation For Innovation, November 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the Canada Foundation for Innovation recently invested $350 million in support of infrastructure projects in Canadian universities, in order to assist researchers in undertaking new projects in all sectors.

Recently as well, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council announced plans to establish a Canadian digital library project linking all Canadian universities on the Internet.

Innovation is in good shape in Canada, which is why a congress on innovation will be held here in Ottawa on November 30 and December 1 and 2.

[Elk Breeding, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, at the time of these events, Mr. Beaupré received compensation of $2,000 for each animal, as provided for in the act.

I have in fact been asked by the UPA to look into Mr. Beaupré's case. We are doing so now.

[Snow Geese, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have to start from the beginning. I succeeded in obtaining $50,000 to protect farmlands in the St. Lawrence valley. We will be working with the Province of Quebec and the UPA to find an environmental solution to the damage the snow geese are currently causing to farmlands.

[Snow Geese, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, again this year Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will be working with the UPA and the Province of Quebec to reduce damage to farmlands.

To do so, we bill be investing $50,000 specifically to—

[Agriculture, March 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, farm safety week this year will run from March 10 to March 17.

Regrettably, there have been many accidents again this past year. Most of these involve children and seniors, and are often related to tractors.

Safety on the farm requires good work habits. I encourage all men and women on farms in Canada to be safety-conscious and to ensure the safety of their family members, because—

[Aquaculture, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as we promised in the 1997 elections, on December 18 we hired an aquaculture commissioner, in the person of Yves Bastien.

He was selected in a competition involving 172 applications. He will have an operating budget of $2 million annually to help the aquaculture industry develop in harmony with the environment and grow in this country of Canada.

[Scrapie, June 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her interest in this issue.

Scrapie is indeed a problem that greatly concerns the Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Between 7,000 and 8,000 sheep were slaughtered, and we are currently conducting an economic analysis with the industry to change certain criteria and see if any compensation is possible.

Breeders currently receive $150 for ordinary sheep and $300 for purebred sheep. However, this is not a crop insurance, but an incentive to report sick animals.

[Supply, April 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in answer to the hon. member, I would point out that I have read the motion. I do not think that the federal government can, all by itself, fight poverty. A people's summit would be far better than any parliamentary committee.