Robert Bertrand

[Contraventions Act, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will be voting against this motion.

[Petitions, November 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who wish to draw the attention of the House to the following: that marriage is the best foundation for families and for the raising of children; that the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman is being challenged; and that this hon. House passed a motion in June 1999 that called for marriage to continue to be defined as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[National Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act, November 6th, 2003]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-469, an act to recognize Canada's recreational hunting and fishing heritage and to establish the National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of my bill is to establish the right to hunt and fish in accordance with the law.

The bill also establishes a National Fish and Wildlife Commission that will be required to make recommendations to the Minister, notably in respect of the promotion of activities related to fish and wildlife.

This enactment also would require that a report on the activities of the commission be tabled annually in each of the Houses of Parliament.

I would like to thank my colleagues in the Liberal outdoor caucus who co-sponsored my bill: Mr. Jordan, Mr. Szabo, Mr. Steckle, Mrs. Ur, Mr. Adams, Mr. St. Denis, Mr. Savoy and Mr. Speller.

[Official Languages, October 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, last March this House adopted a motion referring the subject matter of Bill C-202 to the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Hon. members will recall that the purpose of the bill was to add a sixth principle to the Canada Health Act, namely the respect of linguistic duality. The report was to be produced by today.

Can the committee chair tell us what progress the committee has made on this?

[Petitions, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, today I am happy to table a petition on behalf of my constituents. The petitioners say that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children and that the institution of marriage is between a man and a woman. The petitioners therefore ask that Parliament pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage as being between a man and a woman.

[Marchand Bridge, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is now official: after years of debate to determine which is the longest covered bridge in Quebec, we finally have the answer. In an article in Le Droit on August 13, we learned that the winner is the magnificent Marchand bridge in Mansfield—Fort-Coulonge.

The Marchand bridge is 152.1 m long, while the Notre-Dame-des-Pins bridge in the Beauce measures 150.9 m. The bridge at Notre-Dame-des-Pins had always been considered the longest in Quebec because the old departments of colonization, and highways and transportation used a different method of calculation that did not take into account one portion of the Marchand bridge that is indeed an integral part of its structure.

The Marchand bridge, which has always been the longest and the most beautiful in the eyes of the people of Mansfield—Fort-Coulonge, is a great source of pride and a precious part of our heritage.

Who knows? Perhaps in a few years we will even find this famous bridge on a stamp from Canada Post.

[Canadian Heritage, June 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. It is no secret that the Cultural Spaces Canada program to help improve the material conditions for artistic creativity and innovation in Canada has been a great success.

I would like the minister to confirm to us that the 2003-04 budget for this program will enable her to provide a positive response to all eligible projects from the regions.

[Legion of Honour, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during a visit to Canada that will also see him presiding at the ceremonies commemorating Champlain's first voyage to Quebec, the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour and General of the Air Force Jean-Philippe Douin, presented the insignia of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour to our former Governor General, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc.

General Raymond Hénault, Chief of the Defence Staff, received the decoration of Commander of the Legion of Honour.

In addition, Commissioner Giulianno Zaccardelli of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Lieutenant-General Michel Maisonneuve, Chief of Staff, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, were made Officers of the Legion of Honour.

Membership in the Legion of Honour is one of the highest honours awarded by the Republic of France; consequently, the Government of Canada is very pleased with this announcement and extends congratulations to the new members.

[Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, May 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, every day of our lives we unknowingly take for granted benefits, advantages and opportunities that are inaccessible to most people in the world.

The quality and abundance of food that we eat is part of the exceptional benefits to which we often give little thought.

That explains why Canadians are surprised and worried about the recent discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, more commonly referred to as mad cow disease.

I completely understand this surprise and concern. We all know what anxiety this disease has already caused elsewhere in the world.

That is why I want to assure all Canadians that the Government of Canada, particularly the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is taking this situation very seriously.

We quickly took all the necessary measures in cooperation with the provincial authorities. I also want to assure Canadians and our trade partners that this was an isolated case, one animal out of more than 3.5 million animals that are slaughtered in Canada each year. The disease was detected in an animal and that animal was destroyed. It never entered the food chain.

We know that there is no such thing as zero risk, not even in science, but we know that under the circumstances, Canada has taken all necessary precautions and has acted promptly and properly.

For many years, Canada has enjoyed worldwide recognition for its food quality control system and, in particular, for its vigilance and effectiveness in the fight against BSE.

Since 1993, the last time a case of BSE was discovered in Canada, we have tested some 10,000 animals, which is double the recommended international standard. No other diseased animals have been identified.

Our inspection system is working very well. In particular, our beef is very reliable and its quality is recognized around the world.

I would also like to emphasize the excellent work being done every day by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which manages 14 inspection programs covering food, plants and animals in 18 regions.

The agency's role includes: enforcing the standards established by Health Canada regarding food hygiene and nutritional quality; establishing standards for the health of animals and plant protection; monitoring their application and enforcement; and providing inspection and regulatory enforcement services.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency employs 5,500 people to meet the demands of consumers and domestic and international markets. Its staff consists of many specialists: veterinarians, inspectors, systems specialists, support employees, financial officers, researchers and laboratory technicians.

The organization consists of four operational centres subdivided into 18 regional offices, 185 field offices including border crossings and 408 offices in non-governmental establishments such as slaughterhouses.

The agency also includes 22 laboratories and research institutions that offer scientific advice, design and implement new technologies, provide analysis and conduct research.

It is also worth mentioning that farmers and anyone who works in agriculture in Canada are among the most effective and conscientious in the world.

I would like to remind this House and all Canadians that we can still be very proud to live in a country that is the envy of the world for the quality of life that it continues to give us, including the excellent food that we eat.

[Youth Service Canada, May 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to announce a new project called “Si Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie se racontait”, under the federal Youth Service Canada program, in the riding of Berthier—Montcalm.

This pilot project by the Matawinie CFDC will receive a financial contribution of $129,595 to provide ten dropouts or unemployed youth in the Matawinie RCM with the chance to participate in a heritage experience that will first twin them with seniors and then introduce them to Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie's heritage.

This innovative project will certainly help these young people prepare for a job and above all join the labour market in the riding of Berthier—Montcalm, which is thereby benefiting from a successful federal program.

In closing, I want to wish all the best to participants in this excellent initiative.