Evidence of meeting #40 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was remembrance.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Yes, but I cannot approve something in advance if I have not seen it.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
I am not asking you to pre-approve anything right now, but I am asking you to agree that it would be reasonable not to let the city and the CBC negotiate for so long, if, from the outset, you do not support the CBC assessment of the consortium's proposal.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I have been told that negotiations are going well. Let them negotiate first.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Everyone understood.
So, if I may, I would like to bring up the following point:
It's about the Confederation celebration. The 2015-16 main estimates indeed mention an envelope of $16 million. Can we have more details about this $16 million? I have no other details other than that for now.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Sure. I'm pleased to talk about the 150th, as 2017 will be a time when all Canadians will be able to celebrate where we come from, who we are, and of course the bright future that we hold as Canadians.
When we talk about the money that has been indicated in the documents, it's important to know that much of the funding we've already put out has in fact celebrated or commemorated milestones on the road to 2017.
Liberal
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Yes. Well, no. We've had in fact tens of millions of dollars spent through Heritage through our grants and contributions. For example, we did the War of 1812 on the road to 2017. We've done, of course, the 50th of the national flag. We've done the 100th anniversary of World War I, which we are of course celebrating and commemorating over the same period of time that the war lasted. We're also doing the 75th anniversary of World War II. We have the women's suffrage movement, which is coming in 2016.
Liberal
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
This has been through some of the $16 million, and some of it is through our grants and contributions. The $16 million will assist us to complete the plans for the road to 2017.
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Thank you.
Thank you, Minister, for being here. It takes on a different sort of ambience when we hear that this may be your last appearance at this committee.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
I get the impression, among other things, that you always worked as hard as anybody in this Parliament, but you seemed to enjoy your department. Whenever I saw you in action, you seemed to be sort of flourishing. I assume you're going to be promoting heritage and culture long after you leave whatever post you're leaving.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Thank you for that.
Before I ask my question, I just want to direct something to my colleague Mr. Dion.
I heard something very nice about a brother of yours in the House today. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister talked about some contribution he's making in Haiti. It didn't surprise me that a brother of yours would be doing something good in a country that needs him. Thank you to your family.
Minister, you're aware of my promotion of health and fitness as something that I think will make our country even stronger and even better. You said two things that were, in one sense, unrelated. You mentioned that sport and physical activity keep us healthy as individuals and members of the community. You also said that on the road to 2017 we will facilitate and support the efforts of Canadians to organize celebrations in their communities.
I'm just wondering if you'd like to elaborate on those two things. Do you see our promoting of health and fitness as part of our 150th legacy? There are so many things you've talked about in your own personal interest as well as your department's interest that are consistent with that.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I absolutely think they are part and parcel of the entire celebration.
I want to thank you, because you have dedicated much of your life to making sure that others understand how important it is to be healthy and active. That dedication really is quite commendable. I myself have been inspired by some of the things you have presented here in Parliament, and I hope you continue that as well. I will always have a place in my heart for heritage, for arts, culture, and sport. After all, I'm Canadian, and that is who we are. That is what makes up the fibre of who we are as a people. I thank you for encouraging me and for making note that this isn't the end for me. This is just another chapter in my life.
With regard to the celebrations themselves, the 150th will involve celebrations from coast to coast to coast. We are encouraging people to make sure that as we celebrate they take into consideration activities that of course our youth would like to be involved in. Well, there is no better activity that youth talk about being involved in than sport, arts, and culture. The kids love it.
I've heard from the consultations we've had. We've had 22 consultations, ministerial consultations, and thousands of online submissions of what people want to see for the 150th. I've seen people suggest canoe trips from community to community. I've seen people talk about using the Trans Canada Trail as a real hub to connect our communities as we celebrate 150 years. There is just idea after idea. I look forward to not only helping to approve some of these wonderful ideas but taking part in them, participating in them, so that when I think back to the 150th anniversary with my grandchildren, I can think about what a great time we had.
If you have any more ideas, you know that I'm always available and I love to hear what you have to offer. Keep doing what you're doing; I want to commend you.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Thank you.
You also mentioned the Pan Am Games coming up, and the FIFA. I have tickets to those. I may be seeing you at some of those matches. That's a different aspect of sport, taking high-performance athletes to inspire people in promoting our heritage. Would you like to elaborate on that aspect as well?
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Sure. I remember the feeling we had at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. They were just the most inspiring and the most, as we say in French, rassembleur. They brought the country together. It really made people proud of who we were.
That is what the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games will do for us again. They are coming up. I know that our parliamentary secretary has a special project for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games happening in his own riding. We have some legacy projects happening, and the Royal Canadian Henley will be happening in his riding. This will be a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to once again get together and celebrate our best. These are the athletes who train for years, the ones we continue to invest in.
I was at an announcement just last week, a $16-million announcement for Olympian and Paralympian centres. We have seven centres and institutions across the country who help these athletes get ready. Some of them will be competing at Pan Am and Parapan Am. I watched this young Paralympian triathlete who was training, and I was just in awe. These are some of the finest athletes this country has to offer. We should be very proud of them.
I hope everyone gets tickets, like you and I have, because these are events not to be missed. With FIFA, I really am a soccer fanatic, so I will be taking part. It's just too bad I won't ever get to play. I'm past that age now. I am just looking forward to seeing those women do us proud.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
And you'll be getting a picture with Christine Sinclair somewhere along the way.
